Mesenchymal Stem Cells IN Series Editor

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are adult cells with the capacity for self-renewal and multilineage differentiation. Initially described in the bone marrow, MSC are also present in other organs and tissues. From a therapeutic perspective, because of their straightforward preparation and hypothetical immunologic privilege, MSC emerged as an extremely promising therapeutic agent for tissue regeneration and repair. Currently, there are a signifi cant number of clinical trials underway exploring the use of MSC for the treatment of various diseases including bone defects, graft- versus- host disease, myocardial infarction and heart failure, stroke, Crohn’s disease, and wound repair. At the same time, there are still unresolved issues associated with MSC related to their isolation, culture and expansion, phenotypic defi nition, multipotential differentiation, and mechanisms of action. While researchers should ideally share and use proven methods and protocols to ultimately enable the comparison of results obtained by independent investigators, current MSC research is often considered nonhomogeneous, with different labs using different protocols and defi nitions. The present volume aims to outline the current status of the fi eld and to emphasize the need for clearly established and reproducible protocols to better defi ne the identity, function, and use of MSC in cell therapy. In particular, in the fi rst part of the book, a series of state-of-the-art reviews gives the reader a summary on the use of MSC for the treatment of various diseases. Then, in the following three parts, numerous chapters illustrate methods on isolation and characterization of MSC, expansion of MSC for clinical use, and production and defi nition of the MSC secretome. These protocols include practical advice from researchers who have personalized their methodologies. These insightful tips should dramatically reduce the time and costs involved in setting up MSC protocols in individual labs.