Ways to increase the regenerative potential of mesenchymal stromal cells

Abstract

The ability of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) to migrate into tissue defects and stimulate regeneration  makes them a valuable resource for cell therapy. However, in many cases, in vitro cultivation and the influence of  the pathological microenvironment in the patient’s body reduce the viability and therapeutic efficacy of MSCs, so  their regenerative potential needs to be strengthened. Preconditioning with hormones, cytokines, various chemical  or physical factors, cultivation in a three-dimensional environment or at a reduced oxygen content improves the  ability of MSCs to colonize damaged tissue, survive in it, and produce regulatory molecules for regeneration. The  same goals can be achieved by genetic modification of MSCs. In addition, with the help of transfected MSCs, it is  possible to deliver genes necessary for the treatment of hereditary or oncological diseases into the tissue. Finally, an  alternative to avoid a decrease in the therapeutic potential of subsequently transplanted MSCs during cultivation can  be stimulation of the migration of endogenous patient cells from tissue niches through the systemic circulation to  the area of damage. The development of these approaches opens the way to increasing the efficiency of using MSCs  in regenerative medicine.