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Review
. 2022 Jan 6:2022:2454168.
doi: 10.1155/2022/2454168. eCollection 2022.

Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for Cartilage Regeneration Applications

E Russo  1 , M Caprnda  2 , P Kruzliak  3 , P G Conaldi  4 , C V Borlongan  5 , G La Rocca  1
Affiliations
Review

Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for Cartilage Regeneration Applications

E Russo et al. Stem Cells Int. .

Abstract

Chondropathies are increasing worldwide, but effective treatments are currently lacking. Mesenchymal stromal cell (MSCs) transplantation represents a promising approach to counteract the degenerative and inflammatory environment characterizing those pathologies, such as osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Umbilical cord- (UC-) MSCs gained increasing interest due to their multilineage differentiation potential, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory properties as well as higher proliferation rates, abundant supply along with no risks for the donor compared to adult MSCs. In addition, UC-MSCs are physiologically adapted to survive in an ischemic and nutrient-poor environment as well as to produce an extracellular matrix (ECM) similar to that of the cartilage. All these characteristics make UC-MSCs a pivotal source for a stem cell-based treatment of chondropathies. In this review, the regenerative potential of UC-MSCs for the treatment of cartilage diseases will be discussed focusing on in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies.

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Conflict of interest statement

Prof. Giampiero La Rocca is member of the Scientific board of Auxocell Laboratories, Inc. The other authors report no conflicts.

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