Mesenchymal stem cells and skin wound repair and regeneration: possibilities and questions

Abstract

Adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the capacity for self-renewal and for differentiating into a variety of cells and tissues. They may leave their niche to migrate to remote tissues and play a critical role in wound repair and tissue regeneration. Because of their multipotency, easy isolation and culture, highly expansive potential, and immunosuppression properties, these cells may be an attractive therapeutic tool for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Several studies have indicated a contribution of MSCs to reconstituting skin in cutaneous wounds, but problems still need resolution before MSCs can be widely used clinically. This review focuses mainly on the benefits of MSCs in skin wound healing and tissue regeneration and on the questions that remain to be answered before MSCs can be used in clinical practice.

Effects of transplanted mesenchymal stem cells isolated from Wharton’s jelly of caprine umbilical cord on cutaneous wound healing; histopathological evaluation

“…In the most pervious studies, MSCs were isolated from bone marrow and other tissue such as adipose tissue, nerve tissue, umbilical cord blood and dermis (Kim et al 2007;Dai et al 2007;Perng et al 2006;Shih et al 2005;Jones et al 2002;Luo et al 2010;Tark et al 2010). These experiments demonstrated the plasticity of MSCs and their potential usefulness in complex tissue repair and regeneration and in cell therapy (Fu and Li 2009). …”

“…In recent years, great successes have been achieved in accelerating the capacity for wound healing. Several studies have indicated a contribution of MSCs to reconstituting skin in cutaneous wounds (Fu and Li 2009). Animal transplantation studies have shown that MSCs are able to differentiate into cells of the residing tissue, repair tissue damaged by trauma or disease and partially restore normal function.…”

Mesenchymal stem cells delivered in a microsphere-based engineered skin contribute to cutaneous wound healing and sweat gland repair

“…Evidence from our laboratory and others also suggests that MSCs, particularly those derived from BM, may contribute significantly to promoting the repair and regeneration of skin by altering the tissue microenvironment and BM-MSCs can differentiate into other cells within injured tissue [16][17][18]. Although the use of BM-MSCs for research purposes and for clinical applications has been vigorously investigated, the extent to which these cells contribute to functional recovery such as sweat gland repair remains uncertain.…”

Experimental stem cell therapies on burn wound: Do source, dose, timing and method matter?

“…Embryonic stem cells [27] have also been used in burn wound studies, main type of the stem cells in is bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) [28]. MSCs can be obtained from bone marrow [29], adipose tissue [30] or umbilical cord blood [31] (Figure).…”