Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult stem cells, which can differentiate into bone, cartilage and fat. Due to their expandability, multipotency, immunosuppression and the limited ethical concerns, human MSCs have emerged as an attractive cell source for regenerative medicine. Gene and cell therapy using MSCs offers a promising treatment option for regenerative medicine. As a fast-growing field in regenerative medicine, human MSCs are the most clinically used stem cells for regenerative medicine and have been used in over 1000 clinical trials to treat over 30 diseases. However, the understanding of MSC biology lags behind their widespread clinical application.
Although considerable progress has been made in our understanding of MSC biology, certain important aspects - especially MSC stemness/potency and gene networks regulating MSC differentiation - remain poorly understood. So far, little is known about biomarkers or regulators associated with MSC quality/potency, which could potentially distinguish good MSCs from bad ones. Compared to the widespread MSC cell therapies, gene therapy using MSCs is not very successful and very limited genes are available. In order to advance gene and cell therapies using MSCs and thereby increase their potential for regenerative medicine, a deeper understanding of MSC biology is needed.
The aim of the current Research Topic is to cover promising, recent, and novel research trends in the field of human MSC gene and cell therapy for regenerative medicine. Areas to be covered in this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to:
• Signature genes of tissue specific MSCs.
• Genes and their signaling pathways regulating MSC differentiation.
• Genes and their signaling pathways regulating MSC stemness/potency.
• Gene therapy using MSCs for regenerative medicine.
• Alternative source of MSCs with molecular characterization.
• Bone and cartilage reprogramming (converting other type of cells into bone/cartilage progenitors or cells by defined factors or small molecules).
Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult stem cells, which can differentiate into bone, cartilage and fat. Due to their expandability, multipotency, immunosuppression and the limited ethical concerns, human MSCs have emerged as an attractive cell source for regenerative medicine. Gene and cell therapy using MSCs offers a promising treatment option for regenerative medicine. As a fast-growing field in regenerative medicine, human MSCs are the most clinically used stem cells for regenerative medicine and have been used in over 1000 clinical trials to treat over 30 diseases. However, the understanding of MSC biology lags behind their widespread clinical application.
Although considerable progress has been made in our understanding of MSC biology, certain important aspects - especially MSC stemness/potency and gene networks regulating MSC differentiation - remain poorly understood. So far, little is known about biomarkers or regulators associated with MSC quality/potency, which could potentially distinguish good MSCs from bad ones. Compared to the widespread MSC cell therapies, gene therapy using MSCs is not very successful and very limited genes are available. In order to advance gene and cell therapies using MSCs and thereby increase their potential for regenerative medicine, a deeper understanding of MSC biology is needed.
The aim of the current Research Topic is to cover promising, recent, and novel research trends in the field of human MSC gene and cell therapy for regenerative medicine. Areas to be covered in this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to:
• Signature genes of tissue specific MSCs.
• Genes and their signaling pathways regulating MSC differentiation.
• Genes and their signaling pathways regulating MSC stemness/potency.
• Gene therapy using MSCs for regenerative medicine.
• Alternative source of MSCs with molecular characterization.
• Bone and cartilage reprogramming (converting other type of cells into bone/cartilage progenitors or cells by defined factors or small molecules).
