Mechanisms underlying the protective effects of mesenchymal stem cell-based therapy

• Published in: Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS Vol. 77; no. 14; pp. 2771 - 2794
• Main Authors: Fan, Xing-Liang, Zhang, Yuelin, Li, Xin, Fu, Qing-Ling
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.07.2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Antigens; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Body fat; Bone marrow; Cell Biology; Cell differentiation; Cell Differentiation - genetics; Cell survival; Cell Survival - genetics; cell viability; Chemokines; Clinical trials; Dental pulp; Extracellular vesicles; Hospitals; Humans; Immune response; Immune system; Immunomodulation; Immunomodulation - genetics; Immunomodulators; Insulin-like growth factors; Kinases; Leukocytes; Life Sciences; Ligands; medicine; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation - trends; Mesenchymal Stem Cells; MicroRNAs; Mitochondria; Molecular modelling; Musculoskeletal system; Nitric oxide; Otolaryngology; Paracrine signalling; plasticity; Proteins; R&D; Regeneration (physiology); Regeneration - genetics; Regenerative medicine; Regenerative Medicine - trends; Research & development; Review; Stem cells; Therapeutic applications; therapeutics; Tissue engineering; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Umbilical cord; Mitochondrial transfer; Regenerative potential; Cell–cell contact; Immunomodulation; Integration of MSCs; Soluble factors; Extracellular vesicles
• ISSN: 1420-682X; 1420-9071; 1420-9071
• DOI: 10.1007/s00018-020-03454-6

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been extensively investigated for the treatment of various diseases. The therapeutic potential of MSCs is attributed to complex cellular and molecular mechanisms of action including differentiation into multiple cell lineages and regulation of immune responses via immunomodulation. The plasticity of MSCs in immunomodulation allow these cells to exert different immune effects depending on different diseases. Understanding the biology of MSCs and their role in treatment is critical to determine their potential for various therapeutic applications and for the development of MSC-based regenerative medicine. This review summarizes the recent progress of particular mechanisms underlying the tissue regenerative properties and immunomodulatory effects of MSCs. We focused on discussing the functional roles of paracrine activities, direct cell–cell contact, mitochondrial transfer, and extracellular vesicles related to MSC-mediated effects on immune cell responses, cell survival, and regeneration. This will provide an overview of the current research on the rapid development of MSC-based therapies.