AUTHOR=Plock Jan A., Schnider Jonas T., Solari Mario G., Zheng Xin Xiao , Gorantla Vijay S.

TITLE=Perspectives on the Use of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=4

YEAR=2013

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2013.00175

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2013.00175

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<p>Reconstructive transplantation has emerged as clinical reality over the past decade. Long-term graft acceptance has been feasible in extremity and facial vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) under standard immunosuppression. Minimizing overall burden of lifelong immunosuppression is key to wider application of these non-life saving grafts. Allograft tolerance is the holy grail of many cell-based immunomodulatory strategies. Recent protocols using mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow and adipose tissue offer promise and potential in VCA. This article provides an overview of the experimental basis, the scientific background and clinical applications of stem cell-based therapies in the field of reconstructive allotransplantation.</p>