In the last decades, the biomedical applications of adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have increasingly intrigued researchers and clinicians. These cells can be easily isolated from a variety of tissue sources (i.e., bone marrow, fat, peripheral blood, synovium) and exhibit multidifferentive potential according to specific requirements of functional organ/tissue regeneration. Additionally, MSCs lack the expression of histocompatibility complexes and immune stimulating molecules, being not detected by host immune surveillance and preventing graft rejection after transplantation. Due to these peculiar properties, MSCs turn out to be competent candidates in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering applications.
Several studies have explored the potential of MSC-based therapies for tissue regeneration, with inspiring outcomes at both preclinical and clinical level. Despite rapid advancements in the field, deeper awareness of the dual role exhibited by MSCs in tissue repair is required. On one hand, the direct participation of MSCs to the regeneration processes by specific differentiation into target cells needs to be investigated in terms of molecular and cytomorphological responses to specific stimuli. On the other hand, MSC paracrine capacity to release trophic factors and cytokines that mediate key aspects of tissue repair (i.e., angiogenesis, stimulation of resident precursor cells, modulation of immune cells and control of inflammation) is still far from being exhaustively described. Thus, in vivo preclinical and translational research aiming at filling gaps of knowledge on these topics may provide more and more insights supporting the therapeutic
This Research Topic invites different kinds of contributions (e.g., original research articles, short communications, review articles) that focus on the in vivo preclinical and translational investigation of MSCs about different therapeutic aspects related to organ/tissue regeneration. Studies that report essentially in vitro data, without credible in vivo validation are discouraged. Eventual topics include, but are not restricted to, the following:
- Enhanced MSC responsiveness to humoral and mechanical stimuli to promote functional tissue regeneration
- In vivo investigation of the complex secretory activity of MSCs to harnessing their clinical potential, supported by previous in vitro studies
- Exploration of the immunomodulatory effects of MSCs in basal and/or inflammatory environment and implications in the regeneration process
- MSC cross-talk with biomaterials for the development of advanced engineered substitutes
In the last decades, the biomedical applications of adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have increasingly intrigued researchers and clinicians. These cells can be easily isolated from a variety of tissue sources (i.e., bone marrow, fat, peripheral blood, synovium) and exhibit multidifferentive potential according to specific requirements of functional organ/tissue regeneration. Additionally, MSCs lack the expression of histocompatibility complexes and immune stimulating molecules, being not detected by host immune surveillance and preventing graft rejection after transplantation. Due to these peculiar properties, MSCs turn out to be competent candidates in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering applications.
Several studies have explored the potential of MSC-based therapies for tissue regeneration, with inspiring outcomes at both preclinical and clinical level. Despite rapid advancements in the field, deeper awareness of the dual role exhibited by MSCs in tissue repair is required. On one hand, the direct participation of MSCs to the regeneration processes by specific differentiation into target cells needs to be investigated in terms of molecular and cytomorphological responses to specific stimuli. On the other hand, MSC paracrine capacity to release trophic factors and cytokines that mediate key aspects of tissue repair (i.e., angiogenesis, stimulation of resident precursor cells, modulation of immune cells and control of inflammation) is still far from being exhaustively described. Thus, in vivo preclinical and translational research aiming at filling gaps of knowledge on these topics may provide more and more insights supporting the therapeutic
This Research Topic invites different kinds of contributions (e.g., original research articles, short communications, review articles) that focus on the in vivo preclinical and translational investigation of MSCs about different therapeutic aspects related to organ/tissue regeneration. Studies that report essentially in vitro data, without credible in vivo validation are discouraged. Eventual topics include, but are not restricted to, the following:
- Enhanced MSC responsiveness to humoral and mechanical stimuli to promote functional tissue regeneration
- In vivo investigation of the complex secretory activity of MSCs to harnessing their clinical potential, supported by previous in vitro studies
- Exploration of the immunomodulatory effects of MSCs in basal and/or inflammatory environment and implications in the regeneration process
- MSC cross-talk with biomaterials for the development of advanced engineered substitutes
