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Updated: Mar 1, 2026
Assessment of the Immunomodulatory Properties of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells MSCs
Published on: December 24, 2015
Reduced cellularity of bone marrow in multiple sclerosis with decreased MSC expansion potential and premature ageing
Juliana Redondo1, Pamela Sarkar1, Kevin Kemp1
1School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Background:
Autologous bone-marrow-derived cells are currently employed in clinical studies of cell-based therapy in multiple sclerosis (MS) although the bone marrow microenvironment and marrow-derived cells isolated from patients with MS have not been extensively characterised.
Objectives:
To examine the bone marrow microenvironment and assess the proliferative potential of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in progressive MS.
Methods:
Comparative phenotypic analysis of bone marrow and marrow-derived MSCs isolated from patients with progressive MS and control subjects was undertaken.
Results:
In MS marrow, there was an interstitial infiltrate of inflammatory cells with lymphoid (predominantly T-cell) nodules although total cellularity was reduced. Controlling for age, MSCs isolated from patients with MS had reduced in vitro expansion potential as determined by population doubling time, colony-forming unit assay, and expression of β-galactosidase. MS MSCs expressed reduced levels of Stro-1 and displayed accelerated shortening of telomere terminal restriction fragments (TRF) in vitro.
Conclusion:
Our results are consistent with reduced proliferative capacity and ex vivo premature ageing of bone-marrow-derived cells, particularly MSCs, in MS. They have significant implication for MSC-based therapies for MS and suggest that accelerated cellular ageing and senescence may contribute to the pathophysiology of progressive MS.
Insights
Bone marrow cells, particularly mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), show reduced proliferation and premature aging in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. This finding impacts MSC-based therapies for MS and suggests cellular aging contributes to MS progression.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Autologous bone marrow-derived cells are used in multiple sclerosis (MS) cell therapy.
- The bone marrow microenvironment and cells from MS patients are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the bone marrow microenvironment in progressive MS.
- To evaluate the proliferative capacity of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in MS patients.
Main Methods:
- Comparative phenotypic analysis of bone marrow and MSCs from MS patients and controls.
- Assessment of MSCs' in vitro expansion potential, including population doubling time and colony-forming unit assays.
- Analysis of MSCs' expression of Stro-1 and telomere terminal restriction fragment (TRF) shortening.
Main Results:
- MS bone marrow exhibited inflammatory infiltrates and reduced cellularity.
- MSCs from MS patients showed decreased in vitro expansion potential and premature aging markers (e.g., increased β-galactosidase, reduced Stro-1, shortened TRFs).
Conclusions:
- Bone marrow-derived cells, especially MSCs, have reduced proliferative capacity and undergo premature aging in MS.
- These findings have implications for MSC-based therapies in MS and suggest cellular senescence may play a role in MS pathophysiology.
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