Mesenchymal stem cell

Mesenchymal Stem Cells

File:Mesenchymal stem cells.jpg

Mesenchymal stem cells under a microscope

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stromal cells that can differentiate into a variety of cell types, including osteoblasts (bone cells), chondrocytes (cartilage cells), myocytes (muscle cells) and adipocytes (fat cells which give rise to marrow adipose tissue).

Origin and Characteristics

MSCs were first identified in the bone marrow and were shown to be capable of making bone, cartilage and fat cells. Since then, they have been grown from other tissues, such as fat and cord blood. Certain features make MSCs a great potential therapeutic tool, particularly their immune system privileges, ease of growth and differentiation capabilities.

Therapeutic Uses

MSCs have been proposed for use in cell therapy, and have been tested in clinical trials for many conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, bone and cartilage repair, diabetes, immune disorders and inflammatory diseases.

Research and Clinical Trials

There are currently over 600 clinical trials (as of 2018) testing the use of MSCs for various diseases. MSCs are the leading cell type for stem cell therapies. The safety and efficacy of MSC therapy is still under investigation, and their use remains at the research stage.

See Also

• Stem cell treatments
• Regenerative medicine
• Cell therapy
• Stem cell controversy

External Links

• Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mesenchymal stem cells.
• ClinicalTrials.gov has information on clinical trials involving mesenchymal stem cells.