Journal of Stem Cell Research & Therapy

Abstract

Paracrine Secretions and Immunological Activities of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells: The Key Regenerative Factors of Microenvironment

Seyed Mehdi Hoseini, Elham Sadat Hosseini, Pantea Abessi and Fateme Montazeri*

Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hMSCs) have immunomodulatory properties, mainly through their paracrine secretions, which contain anti-inflammatory molecules and exosomes. The favourable characteristics of hMSCs in the regeneration of damaged tissues have caused these cells to be considered a therapeutic approach in immune-related diseases. However, the cell therapy approach requires a detailed understanding of the behaviour of hMSCs in the inflammatory microenvironment of target tissues because MSCs may respond differently to this pathological microenvironment compared to normal physiological conditions. In addition, the level of influence that effective mechanisms of hMSCs, including paracrine approaches and cell contact, have on maintaining homeostasis and repairing damaged tissues is a subject of on-going controversy. hMSCs show different characteristics in vitro and in vivo depending on their tissue of origin. This variability is more apparent when the cells are derived from different donors, with fetal and adult sources showing different regenerative capabilities. Furthermore, the fact that hMSCs behave differently depending on the local microenvironment adds to the complexity of understanding the immunological pathways mediated by hMSCs. Previous research has demonstrated that the origin of MSCs (fetal or adult) has a significant impact on their immunological characteristics. This is due to differences in the cells’ mechanisms of cell contact and paracrine secretion, which ultimately affect the microenvironment of the MSCs. This study aims to review the immunomodulatory and immunogenic features of fetal and adult/somatic MSCs to highlight the effect of the cell source on paracrine secretions and the resulting microenvironment, both during in vitro expansion and in vivo after cell administration.

Published Date: 2024-05-22; Received Date: 2024-04-22