Mesenchymal stem cells from different sources for sepsis treatment: prospects and limitations

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome in which the host response to infection is dysregulated, leading to circulatory dysfunction and multi-organ damage. It has a high mortality rate and its incidence is increasing year by year, posing a serious threat to human life and health. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have the following properties: hematopoietic support, provision of nutrients, activation of endogenous stem/progenitor cells, repair of tissue damage, elimination of inflammation, immunomodulation, promotion of neovascularization, chemotaxis and migration, anti-apoptosis, anti-oxidation, anti-fibrosis, homing, and many other effects. A large number of studies have confirmed that MSC from different sources have their own characteristics. This article reviews the pathogenesis of sepsis, the biological properties of MSC, and the advantages and disadvantages of different sources of MSC for the treatment of sepsis and their characteristics.