The Role of Mesodermal Derived Stem Cells in Health and Disease: Current Applications and Future Perspectives

Dear Colleagues,

The utilization of stem cells has long been considered an ideal solution for advanced medicinal applications. In the past, it has been proposed that human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) could be used in this field, however, the emerging bioethical issues have limited their application. Besides ESCs, lineage-restricted stem cells with less bioethical considerations can be potentially applied either in an autologous or allogeneic manner, for most applications of medicine. Moreover, the comprehensive study of the biological properties of mesodermally derived stem cells (MDSCs) may give further insights into their important role in health and disease. Importantly, MDSCs, which are characterized by important differentiation and homeostatic properties, have as great representatives the Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs), Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs), and other lineage-committed cells.

Specifically for the MSCs, since their first identification by A.J. Fridenstein (1973) until now, have been successfully used in a great number of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications, and also specific criteria for their characterization have been proposed by the International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy (ISCT). Besides, their differentiation capabilities MSCs, are also known for their immunomodulatory/ immunoregulatory properties and for this reason have been lately utilized in COVID-19 administration. Currently, more than 400 clinical trials, utilizing the MSCs for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications, have been registered (www.clinicaltrials.gov).

On the other hand, it is greatly known the important role of HSCs in physiological hematopoiesis and thus their application in patients suffering from hematological malignancies. Furthermore, these cells can be used as a source for the development of advanced therapeutic medicinal products (ATMPs) such as the Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T and NK cells.

To overcome bioethical issues, the development of induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSCs) from the MDSCs or the utilization of cell-free therapeutic strategies including the extracellular vesicles, conditioned medium, and cell lysates, can be considered state-of-the-art approaches for better disease management.

Based on the above information a crucial question is arising. Which could be the future perspectives of the MDSCs?

I am glad to present the Special Issue entitled: “The Role of Mesodermally Derived Stem Cells in Health and Disease: Current Applications and Future Perspectives”. This collection of articles will welcome original research articles, opinion articles, and miniature and comprehensive reviews related to the most relevant research on mesodermally derived stem cells.

I look forward to your submissions to the current Special Issue.

Dr. Panagiotis Mallis
Guest Editor

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• mesenchymal stromal cells
• hematopoietic stem cells
• regenerative medicine
• exosomes
• CAR-T cells
• immunoregulation
• advanced therapeutic medicinal products