Cardiac specific gene expression changes in long term culture of murine mesenchymal stem cells

Mesenchymal stem cells in cardiac regeneration: a detailed progress report of the last 6 years (2010-2015)

Mesenchymal stem cells have been used for cardiovascular regenerative therapy for decades. These cells have been established as one of the potential therapeutic agents, following several tests in animal models and clinical trials. In the process, various sources of mesenchymal stem cells have been identified which help in cardiac regeneration by either revitalizing the cardiac stem cells or revascularizing the arteries and veins of the heart. Although mesenchymal cell therapy has achieved considerable admiration, some challenges still remain that need to be overcome in order to establish it as a successful technique. This in-depth review is an attempt to summarize the major sources of mesenchymal stem cells involved in myocardial regeneration, the significant mechanisms involved in the process with a focus on studies (human and animal) conducted in the last 6 years and the challenges that remain to be addressed.

Characterisation and differentiation potential of bone marrow derived canine mesenchymal stem cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have potential for use in regenerative therapeutics, since they are capable of multi-lineage differentiation. In this study, primary canine MSCs (cMSCs) were isolated from bone marrow aspirates and characterised using marker expression and morphology. cMSCs expressed CD44 and STRO-1, but not CD34 or CD45. Morphologically, cMSCs were similar to previously described MSCs and were capable of chondrocyte differentiation towards articular type cartilage, characterised by increased collagen type II vs. collagen type I expression and expression of Sox-9. cMSCs demonstrated no significant alterations in marker profiles and failed to differentiate into cardiomyocytes in response to a cardiac differentiation protocol or when co-cultured with canine cardiac stem cells. The study indicated that cMSCs can be derived readily from bone marrow and are capable of differentiation into articular cartilage, but appear to have limited ability to differentiate into cardiomyocytes using current protocols.