Mesenchymal Stem Cells is an important component in the neurobiology of neurodegenerative diseases. This page provides detailed information about its structure, function, and role in disease processes.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), also known as mesenchymal stromal cells, are multipotent stromal cells capable of self-renewal and differentiation into various cell types including osteoblasts, chondrocytes, adipocytes, and myocytes. In the context of neurodegeneration, MSCs have attracted significant interest for their potential therapeutic applications due to their immunomodulatory properties, ability to secrete neurotrophic factors, and potential for neural differentiation.
- Bone marrow: Primary source, aspirated from iliac crest
- Adipose tissue: Abundant, accessible via liposuction
- Umbilical cord: Wharton jelly, perinatal sources
- Dental pulp: Dental pulp stem cells
- Periosteum: Membrane covering bones
Positive markers (defining)
- CD73 (NT5E): Ecto-5'-nucleotidase
- CD90 (THY1): Thy-1 glycoprotein
- CD105 (ENG): Endoglin
Negative markers (exclusion)
- CD34: Hematopoietic marker
- CD45: Leukocyte common antigen
- CD14: Monocyte marker
- CD19, CD79a: B cell markers
- HLA-DR: MHC class II
- Osteogenic: Bone formation
- Chondrogenic: Cartilage formation
- Adipogenic: Fat cell formation
- Myogenic: Muscle cell formation
- Neurogenic: Neural-like cells (in vitro)
- Angiogenic: Endothelial cells
- Trophic factor secretion: BDNF, NGF, GDNF, VEGF
- Anti-inflammatory cytokines: IL-10, TGF-β
- Pro-regenerative factors: HGF, IGF-1
- T cell suppression: Reduce proliferation
- B cell modulation: Inhibit plasma cells
- Dendritic cell maturation: Inhibit differentiation
- M1→M2 shift: Promote anti-inflammatory microglia
- Regulatory T cells: Expand Tregs
- Dopaminergic differentiation: Potential to replace lost neurons
- Neuroprotection: Trophic support for remaining neurons
- Immunomodulation: Reduce neuroinflammation
- Alpha-synuclein: May reduce aggregation
- Clinical trials: Several Phase 1/2 trials completed
- Amyloid modulation: May enhance clearance
- Tau pathology: Potential effects on phosphorylation
- Neuroinflammation: Shift microglia to M2
- Synaptic support: BDNF secretion
- Cognitive improvement: Reported in preclinical models
- Motor neuron support: Neurotrophic factors
- Glutamate regulation: Reduce excitotoxicity
- Immunomodulation: Reduce inflammatory response
- Clinical trials: Mixed results to date
¶ Stroke and Traumatic Brain Injury
- Neurorestoration: Support regeneration
- Angiogenesis: Promote blood vessel formation
- Anti-scarring: Modulate glial scar
- Direct differentiation: Become neural cells
- Fusion: With host neurons
- Transdifferentiation: Direct conversion
- Exosome secretion:Nano-sized vesicles
- Trophic support: Growth factors
- Anti-apoptotic effects: Reduce cell death
- Systemic effects: Modulate peripheral immunity
- Central effects: Microglia modulation
- Anti-inflammatory: Reduce cytokine release
- Autologous: Patient's own cells (reduced rejection)
- Allogeneic: Off-the-shelf options available
- Accessible: Easy to obtain and expand
- Safety: Well-tolerated in clinical trials
- Non-tumorigenic: Low transformation risk
- Heterogeneity: Variable preparations
- Dosing: Optimal cell number unclear
- Delivery: Route of administration
- Survival: Engraftment in CNS
- Differentiation: Efficiency in vivo
- Intravenous: Systemic administration
- Intrathecal: Cerebrospinal fluid
- Intracerebral: Direct to brain
- Intranasal: Non-invasive option
The study of Mesenchymal Stem Cells has evolved significantly over the past decades. Research in this area has revealed important insights into the underlying mechanisms of neurodegeneration and continues to drive therapeutic development.
Historical context and key discoveries in this field have shaped our current understanding and will continue to guide future research directions.
- [1] Sensebé L, Krampera M, Schrezenmeier H. Mesenchymal stem cells for clinical application. Vox Sang. 2010.
- [2] Uccelli A, Moretta L, Pistoia V. Mesenchymal stem cells in health and disease. Nat Rev Immunol. 2008.
- [3] Caplan AI, Dennis JE. Mesenchymal stem cells as trophic mediators. J Cell Biochem. 2006.
- [4] Joyce N et al. Mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease. Regen Med. 2010.
- [5] Scolding NJ et al. Cell-based therapies for neurological disorders. Nat Rev Neurol. 2017.
- [6] Brown C et al. Mesenchymal stem cells: cell therapy and regenerative potential. J Anat. 2019.
- [7] Lalu MM et al. Safety of cell therapy with mesenchymal stromal cells. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2022.
- [8] Chen ZH et al. Clinical trials of mesenchymal stem cell therapy for neurological diseases. Stem Cells Transl Med. 2021.
- [[treatments/stem-cell-therapy|Stem Cell Therapy]]
- [[cell-types/adult-neural-stem-cells|Neural Stem Cells]]
- [[diseases/parkinsons-disease|Parkinson's Disease]]
- [[diseases/alzheimers-disease|Alzheimer's Disease]]
- [[diseases/als|ALS]]