Challenges in Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Based Therapies Publisher Pubmed



Kavianpour M¹ ; Meirelles LDS² ; Ahmadbeigi N³ Show Affiliations
Source: Current Stem Cell Research and Therapy Published:2023

Abstract

Over 50 years have passed since discovering mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). Initially, despite gaps in the knowledge of the identity of these cells, their therapeutic aspects were recognized. Consequently, MSCs became candidates for treating a wide range of diseases. However, the therapeutic effects of MSCs are not stable in the long term, and there are inconsistent data on their clinical efficacy. Even though more than 1000 MSC-based clinical trials have been registered, and the safety of MSC-based cell therapies has been proven, data on the clinical efficacy of MSCs have not been enough to war-rant FDA approval for clinical treatment and marketing purposes. The available information on MSCs still contains some controversies, perhaps owing to little progress in understanding their in vivo identity. MSCs have been used for therapeutic purposes despite poor knowledge of their in vivo origin or functions. Hence, perhaps we need to go back to the basics of MSCs and spend more time understanding the biology of these cells. An improved understanding of MSCs' location and function within tissues may improve their therapeutic efficacy and, consequently, their establishment as a cell therapy product. © 2023 Bentham Science Publishers.