Mesenchymal stem cells and the treatment of conditions and diseases: the less glittering side of a conspicuous stem cell for basic research

Abstract

Not too long ago, several motivated and forward-looking articles were published describing the cellular and molecular properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), specially highlighting their potential for self-renewal, commitment, differentiation, and maturation into specific mesoderm-derived lineages. A very influential publication of that period entitled "Mesenchymal stem cells: No longer second class marrow citizens" [1] raised the point of view that "…challenges to harness MSC cell therapy to treat diseases … need to wait for the full comprehension that marrow is a rich source of mesenchyme-derived cells whose potential is still far from fully appreciated." Whether or not the prophecy of Gerson was fulfilled, in the last 8 years it has become evident that infusing MSCs into patients suffering a variety of disorders represents a viable option for medical treatment. Accordingly, a vast number of articles have explored the privileged cellular and molecular features of MSCs prepared from sources other than the canonical, represented by the bone marrow. This review will provide more information neither related to the biological attractiveness of MSCs nor to the success after their clinical use. Rather, we would like to underscore several "critical and tangential" issues, not always discussed in biomedical publications, but relevant to the clinical utilization of bone-marrow-derived MSCs.