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Review
. 2010 Apr;10(4):505-17.
doi: 10.1517/14712591003610606.

Potential therapeutic applications of muscle-derived mesenchymal stem and progenitor cells

Wesley M Jackson  1 , Leon J Nesti, Rocky S Tuan
Affiliations
Review

Potential therapeutic applications of muscle-derived mesenchymal stem and progenitor cells

Wesley M Jackson et al. Expert Opin Biol Ther. 2010 Apr.

Abstract

Importance of the field: Mesenchymal adult stem cells have properties that make them attractive for use in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. They are inherently plastic, enabling them to differentiate along different lineages, and promote wound healing and regeneration of surrounding tissues by modulating immune and inflammatory responses, promoting angiogenesis and secreting other trophic factors. Unlike embryonic stem cells, clinical uses of mesenchymal stem cells are not encumbered by ethical considerations or legal restrictions.

Areas covered in this review: We discuss skeletal muscle as a source of mesenchymal stem and progenitor cells by reviewing their biology and current applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This paper covers literature from the last 5 - 10 years.

What the reader will gain: Skeletal muscle is a plentiful source of mesenchymal stem and progenitor cells. This tissue may be obtained via routine biopsy or collection after surgical debridement. We describe the biology of these cells and provide an overview of therapeutic applications currently being developed to take advantage of their regenerative properties.

Take home message: There is potential for stem and progenitor cells derived from skeletal muscle to be incorporated in clinical interventions, either as a cellular therapy to modify the natural history of disease or as a component of engineered tissue constructs that can replace diseased or damaged tissues.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interest

LJ Nesti has received funding from the Military Amputee Research Program #PO5-A011 and Comprehensive Neurosciences Program #CNP-2008-CR01. RS Tuan received NIH intramural Support (Z01 AR41131).

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Origin and characteristics of muscle-derived MSCs
Traumatized-muscle-derived MPCs are undifferentiated progenitor cells that have been activated in response to the injury and are proliferating in the tissue. These cells have not yet terminally differentiated and maintain the ability to differentiate into osteoblasts, adipocytes or chondrocytes.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Functional characteristics of pericytes
Pericytes may respond to injury by leaving their vascular niche and migrating into the damaged muscle tissue. In an environment where there is sufficient muscle fiber architecture, they will retain a muscle stem cell phenotype. However, if the tissue damage is extensive, the pericytes may not have sufficient environmental signals and will instead display a functional phenotype that resembles that of MSCs or traumatized-muscle-derived MPCs.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Schematics of two general strategies in the application of muscle-derived mesenchymal stem and progenitor cells in regenerative medicine
(1) The cells can be differentiated into a particular cell type that is needed to replace damaged tissues, or (2) the cells can be used as trophic mediators that will enhance endogenous tissue repair mechanisms.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Chen F, Tuan R. Adult stem cells for cartilage tissue engineering and regeneration. Curr Rhematol Rev. 2008;4:149–54. This article provides a concise description of the general strategy for tissue engineering using MSCs through a focus on cartilage tissue engineering.
    1. Patterson TE, Kumagai K, Griffith L, Muschler GF. Cellular strategies for enhancement of fracture repair. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2008;90(Suppl 1):111–9. - PubMed
    1. Abdallah BM, Kassem M. Human mesenchymal stem cells: from basic biology to clinical applications. Gene Ther. 2007;15(2):109–16. This review provides a broad overview of MSC biology and describes how these cells are currently being applied to clinical therapies. - PubMed
    1. Nesselmann C, Ma N, Bieback K, et al. Mesenchymal stem cells and cardiac repair. J Cell Mol Med. 2008;12(5B):1795–810. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Caplan AI. Adult mesenchymal stem cells for tissue engineering versus regenerative medicine. J Cell Physiol. 2007;213(2):341–7. This paper was the first to comprehesively review the trophic abilites of MSCs and to attribute the primary regenerative benefit of MSCs on these trophic properties. - PubMed

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