Mesenchymal Stem Cells: The Moniker Fits the Science

Area of Science:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Stem Cell Biology

Background:

• Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) show promise in regenerative medicine and have a good safety record in clinical trials.
• Current research suggests MSCs primarily exert therapeutic effects through paracrine actions, leading to proposals to rename them 'medicinal signaling cells'.
• This paracrine-centric view is widely accepted but may overlook crucial aspects of MSC function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To challenge the prevailing paracrine-centric viewpoint of Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).
• To advocate for a stem cell-centric perspective that integrates paracrine activity.
• To highlight the importance of homologous applications and robust potency metrics for MSCs.

Main Methods:

• Review and synthesis of existing scientific literature on Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).
• Analysis of data supporting both paracrine and stem cell-specific functions of MSCs.
• Evaluation of the implications of different viewpoints for clinical applications.

Main Results:

• Abundant data supports the inherent stem cell nature of Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).
• A stem cell-centric perspective offers a more comprehensive understanding of MSC biology.
• Homologous applications of MSCs are being actively explored in clinical trials.
• A stem cell-centric view aids in developing potency metrics for MSCs.

Conclusions:

• The proposed renaming of Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to 'medicinal signaling cells' is premature and potentially misleading.
• A stem cell-centric viewpoint provides a more complete framework for understanding MSCs.
• This perspective supports the development of standardized potency assays for clinical applications of MSCs.