Mesenchymal stem cells from the domestic ungulates: trends and outliers

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a valuable source for regenerative therapy and tissue engineering. MSCs are multipotent adherent stem cells that can be isolated from different adult and fetal tissues. In contrast to human MSCs, MSCs from large animal models have not yet been described by the uniform criteria, which include the characteristic phenotype of surface molecules, expression of stemness markers and differentiation potencies. The current review describes state of the art for characterization for MSCs from three species of domestic ungulates, including cattle (Bos taurus), swine (Sus scrofa) and sheep (Ovis aries). The comparative analysis of surface phenotype, gene expression and differentiation capacities of MSCs from different origins allows defi ning the consensus phenotype of bovine, ovine and porcine MSCs. We also discuss the major data discrepancies and pitfalls that are complicating the successful research of MScs from domestic livestock. This review emphasizes the pressing need for the unifi cation of mesenchymal stem cell criteria in the veterinary fi eld.

Small Ruminants and Its Use in Regenerative Medicine: Recent Works and Future Perspectives

“…The main limitations are related to the well-known low availability of species-specific or cross-linking antibodies for veterinary species and to discussions related to the MSC definition and nomenclature [161,162]. In addition, there seem to be clear differences in terms of culture conditions and expression of stemness markers that do not allow for a direct translation from the protocols pre-established for humans or rodents to ovine or goat-derived cells [163].…”

“…Sheep MSCs (oMSCs) are, like human ones, characterized according to the International Society for Cellular Therapy that include the ability of plastic-adherence, expression of well-defined markers and capacity for tridifferentiation [164]. In general they express surface markers that adapt to the characterization of the ISCT, but some variations in specific markers have already been identified [163]. It is believed that these variations may be related to different sheep breeds, tissues, collection methods, detachment agents used, immunophenotypic variations throughout cell culture and to types of antibodies used to identify the markers [77].…”