Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cell populations with immune-modulatory properties and showed great potential for cell therapy in various diseases. MSCs could be isolated from various tissues, including bone marrow, umbilical cord, gingiva, adipocytes, and olfactory mucosa, and so on. Though all these cells share similar surface markers, tri-lineage differentiation potential, and immune-suppression ability, they are quite heterogeneous on morphology, cell size, and gene expression, constituting roadblocks for standardized large-scale production and widespread clinical application of MSCs.
In the past few decades, tremendous efforts have been made to characterize the existence and mechanism of MSC heterogeneity. Among these, several functional markers of MSCs have also been found. Moreover, both industry and academic investigators have tried extensively to optimize the culture condition of MSCs and develop chemically defined medium to minimize the heterogeneity of MSCs.
In this Research Topic, we welcome both Original Research and Review articles related to the heterogeneity of MSCs. The goal of this article collection is to address the most recent updates on the isolation, culture system, and the mechanism to minimize the heterogeneity of MSCs, thus paving up its clinical applications. We aim to novel research falling under, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:
1. Isolation and characterization of MSC from different origins
2. Innovative strategies (gene modification, pre-treatment, and culture systems) to minimize MSC heterogeneity
3. New biomarkers for MSCs
4. Demonstration of MSC heterogeneity with single-cell omics or lineage tracing tools
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
