Basic Research and Clinical Application of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stromal cells that were originally identified in bone marrow and later detected in the other connective tissues including adipose tissue. MSCs can differentiate not only into mesenchymal lineage cells but also into the other cell types such as neuronal cells and epithelial cells. In addition to their multi-lineage potential, MSCs have the immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, MSCs have profound medicinal effects at body sites of tissue injury, disease, or inflammation as either endogenously or exogenously supplied. The definition of MSCs is becoming increasingly obscure due to the findings of heterogeneous populations with different levels of stemness within MSCs isolated by several different tissues. Recent studies demonstrate that Stro-1, CD271, SSEA4, and CD146 may be good markers to identify multipotent MSCs. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on our knowledge of MSCs in their phenotypic characterization, biological properties and potential for applications in cell therapy and regenerative medicine.