Concise Review: Multifaceted Characterization of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Use in Regenerative Medicine. (26th October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Samsonraj, Rebekah M.; Raghunath, Michael; Nurcombe, Victor; Hui, James H.; van Wijnen, Andre J.; Cool, Simon M.
• Is Part Of: Stem cells translational medicine. Volume 6:Number 12(2017)
• Page Start: 2173
• Page End: 2185
• Publication Date: 2017-10-26
• Subjects: Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells -- Bone marrow -- Characterization -- Release criteria -- Regenerative medicine; Stem cells -- Periodicals; Regenerative medicine -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 616.0277405
• DOI: 10.1002/sctm.17-0129
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2157-6564

Abstract

Abstract: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) hold great potential for regenerative medicine because of their ability for self-renewal and differentiation into tissue-specific cells such as osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and adipocytes. MSCs orchestrate tissue development, maintenance and repair, and are useful for musculoskeletal regenerative therapies to treat age-related orthopedic degenerative diseases and other clinical conditions. Importantly, MSCs produce secretory factors that play critical roles in tissue repair that support both engraftment and trophic functions (autocrine and paracrine). The development of uniform protocols for both preparation and characterization of MSCs, including standardized functional assays for evaluation of their biological potential, are critical factors contributing to their clinical utility. Quality control and release criteria for MSCs should include cell surface markers, differentiation potential, and other essential cell parameters. For example, cell surface marker profiles (surfactome), bone-forming capacities in ectopic and orthotopic models, as well as cell size and granularity, telomere length, senescence status, trophic factor secretion (secretome), and immunomodulation, should be thoroughly assessed to predict MSC utility for regenerative medicine. We propose that these and other functionalities of MSCs should be characterized prior to use in clinical applications as part of comprehensive and uniform guidelines and release criteria for their clinical-grade production to achieve predictably favorable treatment outcomes for stem cell therapy. Abstract : Adopting a multifaceted approach for characterizing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is critical for the selection of best-in-class cells for therapeutic use. Assaying for surfactome, secretome, self-renewal, colony formation, trophic factor secretion, and multilineage differentiation, all form part of an assessment of cellular naivety or "stemness." When this status is combined with functional assays such as immunomodulation, and other key parameters of cellular health that include telomere length, they collectively help provide a robust assessment of characteristics that are increasingly becoming important indicators of clinical efficacy.