Are Mesenchymal Cells Indeed Pluripotent Stem Cells or Just Stromal Cells? OCT-4 and VSELs Biology Has Led to Better Understanding

Abstract

Stem cells have excited researchers because of their potential to regenerate. However, which stem cells will be the best candidate for regenerative medicine remains an enigma. Compared to pluripotent stem cells with associated risks of immune rejection and teratoma formation, adult stem cells especially the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are hyped to be a suitable alternate since they also exhibit pluripotent properties. This review shows that there is a subpopulation of pluripotent very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) among MSCs culture. The two populations differ from each other in expression pattern of OCT-4. VSELs exhibit nuclear OCT-4A, whereas the MSCs have cytoplasmic OCT-4B, similar to our earlier findings in testis and ovary. Pluripotent VSELs with nuclear OCT-4A exist in various adult body organs, and the immediate progenitors express cytoplasmic OCT-4B which is eventually lost as the cell differentiates further. To conclude it is essential to discriminate between nuclear and cytoplasmic OCT-4 expression and also to acknowledge the presence of VSELs.

Comparison of In Vitro Developmental Competence of Cloned Caprine Embryos Using Donor Karyoplasts from Adult Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells vs Ear Fibroblast Cells

“…; Nam et al. ), due to its relatively limited potential, it is suggested that future studies would more likely involve the use of cells of higher potency such as pluripotent stem cells (Bhartiya ). Thus, the use of NT in MSCs provides opportunities to improve this and pave new possibilities for its applications.…”

“…Isolation and characterization of stem cells derived from various tissues and sources were carried out to demonstrate that MSCs are present and have specific characteristics. Although many studies have described the use of MSCs for various applications (Murphy et al 2003;Nam et al 2013), due to its relatively limited potential, it is suggested that future studies would more likely involve the use of cells of higher potency such as pluripotent stem cells (Bhartiya 2013). Thus, the use of NT in MSCs provides opportunities to improve this and pave new possibilities for its applications.…”

Mesenchymal stem cells of different origin: Comparative evaluation of proliferative capacity, telomere length and pluripotency marker expression

“…While application of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) is associated with immune rejection and teratoma formation, alternatively proposed mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have several advantages for the implementation in regenerative medicine (Ferro et al, 2012;Bhartiya, 2013). Ethical and easy isolation of MSCs from adult tissues, their involvement in tissue regeneration due to differentiation capacity and immunosupressive properties, are among the most important ones (da Silva Meirelles et al, 2006;Bhartiya, 2013).…”

“…Ethical and easy isolation of MSCs from adult tissues, their involvement in tissue regeneration due to differentiation capacity and immunosupressive properties, are among the most important ones (da Silva Meirelles et al, 2006;Bhartiya, 2013). Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) were first defined and considered for treatment of graft-versus-host-disease, hematological malignancies, neurologic and cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune diseases, both in autollogous and allogeneic settings (Ikebe and Suzuki, 2014).…”

Do Somatic Cells De-differentiate/Trans-differentiate or VSELs Initiate Cancer and Explain Plasticity in Adult Tissues?

“…These stem cells have been recently reviewed [22,23]. They also comprise a sub-population among mesenchymal stem cells [24]. Table 1 is a compilation of various properties of cancer stem cells and various reports showing that VSELs exhibit similar properties.…”