Mesenchymal stroma cells (MSCs) in regenerative medicine: An update

Abstract

Mesenchymal stroma cells (MSCs) have anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and immunomodulating properties, and they have, therefore, been explored in the treatment of autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases during the last two decades. MSCs have reached regulatory approval in several countries for the treatment of Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease and for Crohn’s disease. Results in several other diseases like Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and Spinal cord injury look promising. Uncritical, direct to consumer sales of unapproved stem cell treatments by private entrepreneurs cloud the field of MSC research and jeopardize the establishment of MSC treatment in the armamentarium of Medicine. Several more years are necessary for a full evaluation of this new treatment modality in several indications.