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Review
. 2017 Mar;21(1):1-10.
doi: 10.12717/DR.2017.21.1.001. Epub 2017 Mar 31.

Usage of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Cell-based Therapy: Advantages and Disadvantages

Hee Jung Kim  1 , Jeong-Soo Park  2
Affiliations
Review

Usage of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Cell-based Therapy: Advantages and Disadvantages

Hee Jung Kim et al. Dev Reprod. 2017 Mar.

Abstract

The use of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) in cell-based therapy has attracted extensive interest in the field of regenerative medicine, and it shows applications to numerous incurable diseases. hMSCs show several superior properties for therapeutic use compared to other types of stem cells. Different cell types are discussed in terms of their advantages and disadvantages, with focus on the characteristics of hMSCs. hMSCs can proliferate readily and produce differentiated cells that can substitute for the targeted affected tissue. To maximize the therapeutic effects of hMSCs, a substantial number of these cells are essential, requiring extensive ex vivo cell expansion. However, hMSCs have a limited lifespan in an in vitro culture condition. The senescence of hMSCs is a double-edged sword from the viewpoint of clinical applications. Although their limited cell proliferation potency protects them from malignant transformation after transplantation, senescence can alter various cell functions including proliferation, differentiation, and migration, that are essential for their therapeutic efficacy. Numerous trials to overcome the limited lifespan of mesenchymal stem cells are discussed.

Keywords: Cell-therapy; Cellular senescence; Mesenchymal stem cell; Regenerative medicine.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Advantages of human mesenchymal stem cells in cell-based therapy.
hMSCs have several advantages for clinical use, such as the availability and ease of harvesting, multilineal differentiation potential, potent immunosuppressive effects, safety without any possibility of malignant transformation after infusion of allogeneic cells which is common in the case of ESCs and iPSCs, and the lack of ethical issues that occur with the application of human ESCs. Limited lifespan of MSCs can guarantee the safe from malignancy, but can alter various cell functions including proliferation, differentiation and migration abilities that can limit the clinical usage. To expand the lifespan of hMSCs and maximize their clinical usefulness by improving their performance, various trials are under investigation.
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