Mesenchymal Stem Cells Delivery in Individuals with Different Pathologies: Multimodal Tracking, Safety and Future Applications

Mitochondria in Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Key to Fate Determination and Therapeutic Potential

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have become popular tool cells in the field of transformation and regenerative medicine due to their function of cell rescue and cell replacement. The dynamically changing mitochondria serve as an energy metabolism factory and signal transduction platform, adapting to different cell states and maintaining normal cell activities. Therefore, a clear understanding of the regulatory mechanism of mitochondria in MSCs is profit for more efficient clinical transformation of stem cells. This review highlights the cutting-edge knowledge regarding mitochondrial biology from the following aspects: mitochondrial morphological dynamics, energy metabolism and signal transduction. The manuscript mainly focuses on mitochondrial mechanistic insights in the whole life course of MSCs, as well as the potential roles played by mitochondria in MSCs treatment of transplantation, for seeking pivotal targets of stem cell fate regulation and stem cell therapy.

Current progress in engineered and nano-engineered mesenchymal stem cells for cancer: From mechanisms to therapy

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), as self-renewing multipotent stromal cells, have been considered promising agents for cancer treatment. A large number of studies have demonstrated the valuable properties of MSC-based treatment, such as low immunogenicity and intrinsic tumor-trophic migratory properties. To enhance the potency of MSCs for therapeutic purposes, equipping MSCs with targeted delivery functions using genetic engineering is highly beneficial. Genetically engineered MSCs can express tumor suppressor agents such as pro-apoptotic, anti-proliferative, anti-angiogenic factors and act as ideal delivery vehicles. MSCs can also be loaded with nanoparticle drugs for increased efficacy and externally moderated targeting. Moreover, exosomes secreted by MSCs have important physiological properties, so they can contribute to intercellular communication and transfer cargo into targeted tumor cells. The precise role of genetically modified MSCs in tumor environments is still up for debate, but the beginning of clinical trials has been confirmed by promising results from preclinical investigations of MSC-based gene therapy for a wide range of malignancies. This review highlights the advanced techniques of engineering/nano-engineering and MSC-derived exosomes in tumor-targeted therapy.

Extracellular Vesicles and Cellular Ageing

Ageing is a complex process characterized by deteriorated performance at multiple levels, starting from cellular dysfunction to organ degeneration. Stem cell-based therapies aim to administrate stem cells that eventually migrate to the injured site to replenish the damaged tissue and recover tissue functionality. Stem cells can be easily obtained and cultured in vitro, and display several qualities such as self-renewal, differentiation, and immunomodulation that make them suitable candidates for stem cell-based therapies. Current animal studies and clinical trials are being performed to assess the safety and beneficial effects of stem cell engraftments for regenerative medicine in ageing and age-related diseases.Since alterations in cell-cell communication have been associated with the development of pathophysiological processes, new research is focusing on the modulation of the microenvironment. Recent research has highlighted the important role of some microenvironment components that modulate cell-cell communication, thus spreading signals from damaged ageing cells to neighbor healthy cells, thereby promoting systemic ageing. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small-rounded vesicles released by almost every cell type. EVs cargo includes several bioactive molecules, such as lipids, proteins, and genetic material. Once internalized by target cells, their specific cargo can induce epigenetic modifications and alter the fate of the recipient cells. Also, EV's content is dependent on the releasing cells, thus, EVs can be used as biomarkers for several diseases. Moreover, EVs have been proposed to be used as cell-free therapies that focus on their administration to slow or even reverse some hallmarks of physiological ageing. It is not surprising that EVs are also under study as next-generation therapies for age-related diseases.