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Mesenchymal stem cells in regenerative medicine and diseases
Chapter 1
Mesenchymal stem cells in regenerative medicine and diseases: hope for better human health Ahmed H.K. El-Hashash1, 2 1 The University of Edinburgh-Zhejiang International Campus (UoE-ZJU Institute), Haining, Zhejiang, PRC; 2Centre of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Schools of Medicine & Basic Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PRC
The stem cell research field has grown fast since the beginning of the 21st century, with many new and astonishing discoveries, representing the most exciting aspects of biological and biomedical research. Remarkably, the stem cell research field is growing over twice as fast (7%) as the reported world average growth in research, which is 2.9%. Since 2008, the annual growth rate of studies on one rapidly grown type of stem cell, induced pluripotent stem cells, the discovery of which was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2012, is an astonishing 77%. A significant increase in the volume of research output and publications has been reported in all areas of stem cell research. Major advances have been achieved in the stem cell research field by the generation of the first functioning whole organ, the thymus, in the laboratory, and the first documented human baby girl from in vitro fertilization, who now has children of her own. Stem cell and biomedical research is under way in various national and international laboratories with ambitious goals of generating several other functioning whole organs, including kidney and intestine. Advances in stem cell biology have seen the rise of an exciting new field of regenerative medicine and research. Regenerative medicine is a multidisciplinary branch of translational research in tissue engineering and molecular biology, which deals with the “process of replacing, engineering, or regenerating human cells, tissues, or organs to restore or establish normal function” Regenerative medicine, therefore, aims at repairing injured tissues to restore normal cellular function. This field holds the promise of engineering damaged Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Human Health and Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-819713-4.00001-3 Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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tissues/organs via stimulation of the body’s own repair mechanisms to functionally heal previously irreparable tissues/organs. Several classes of stem cells that originate from different mesenchymal compartments of the body, including the marrow, amnion, adipose tissue, and amniotic fluid, exert promising therapeutic effects in some important human fibrotic and inflammatory diseases, identifying the next generation of cellbased therapy of human diseases based on mesenchymal stem cells. As of this writing, the cell population that is most commonly studied in clinical trials comprises mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs), which are self-renewing multipotent cells. MSCs are, therefore, the most commonly used cell-based therapy in clinical trials because of their regenerative effects. Experimental and clinical studies have provided promising results using MSCs to treat diabetes. The therapeutic potential of MSCs is based on their remarkable ability to differentiate into multiple cell types, ease of isolation, low immunogenicity, and capacity to secrete multiple biologic factors that can restore, repair, and alleviate injured or impaired tissues. Preclinical and clinical evidence has substantiated the therapeutic benefit of MSCs in various medical conditions. MSCs are widely distributed in the body and can therefore be isolated from multiple sources, including the bone marrow, heart, bodily fluids, skin, and perinatal tissues. They can react to microenvironmental changes (stress, pH, oxygen) by releasing immune modulatory and trophic factors known to regenerate injured cells and tissues. Experimental findings in neurodegenerative and cardiovascular disease have supported the rapid growth of cell-based research. At this writing, 695 US clinical trials are testing the utility of MSCs as therapeutic agents for an array of medical conditions. Understanding the biology of MSCs and their mechanisms of development and function could identify innovative solutions for the treatment of many stem-based diseases/disorders, restoring normal morphogenesis and/or regeneration of various organs. There are also likely to be advances in the potential applications of these stem cells in the repair and regeneration of various organs after injury, as well as in the treatments of various human diseases. Applying recent discoveries in MSC biology and regenerative medicine for the betterment of human diseases has brought forth much hope, but continues to present many challenges. The hope for cures has motivated different states and countries worldwide to invest in stem cell and regenerative medicine research. For instance, the people of California have been prompted to strongly mandate an amendment to the state’s constitution establishing the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Annual Report, 2018) with a $3 billion bond issue. This state-based funding has significantly boosted research on stem cells and regenerative medicine in California and other states (Alberta et al., 2015). Similar interests and investments in the stem cell, regenerative medicine, and cellular
Mesenchymal stem cells in regenerative medicine and diseases Chapter | 1
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therapeutics field are now in process in Japan, Germany, Australia, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere. Therefore, stem cell research growth is twice as fast (7%) as the world average growth in research, which is almost 3%, and stem cell-based published articles are cited 50% more often than the world average for all related subject areas, according to the report Stem Cell Research: Trends and perspectives on the evolving international landscape (2013). This book contains a global collection of monograph essays from collaborating research scientists at various research institutes and countries worldwide. They describe exciting progress in MSC biology and regenerative medicine, including MSC applications in the treatment of human diseases. The book includes insights ranging from MSC biology and development through the derivation and characterization of MSCs, as well as their applications in tissue repair/regeneration and important human diseases. This book, therefore, discusses the fact-based promise of MSC therapeutics and regenerative medicine in the real world.
References Alberta, H.B., Cheng, A., Jackson, E.L., Pjecha, M., Levine, A.D., 2015. Assessing state stem cell programs in the United States: how has state funding affected publication trends? Cell Stem Cell 16 (2), 115e118. California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, 2018. California Stem Cell Report 2018. https:// www.cirm.ca.gov/sites/default/files/files/about_cirm/CIRM%202018%20Annual%20Report.pdf. Stem Cell Research: Trends and perspectives on the evolving international landscape, 2013. A Joint Report by Elsevier, EuroStemCell and Kyoto University’s Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS) Including Scientists’ and Other Stakeholders’ Views on Current Progress and Future Expectations for the Field. https://www.elsevier.com/__data/assets/ pdf_file/0005/53177/Stem-Cell-Report-Trends-and-Perspectives-on-the-Evolving-InternationalLandscape_Dec2013.pdf.
Further reading Ralston, M., 2008. Stem Cell Research Around the World. https://www.pewforum.org/2008/07/17/ stem-cell-research-around-the-world/.
Mesenchymal stem cells in regenerative medicine and diseases: hope for better human health Ahmed H.K. El-Hashash1, 2 1 The University of Edinburgh-Zhejiang International Campus (UoE-ZJU Institute), Haining, Zhejiang, PRC; 2Centre of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Schools of Medicine & Basic Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PRC
The stem cell research field has grown fast since the beginning of the 21st century, with many new and astonishing discoveries, representing the most exciting aspects of biological and biomedical research. Remarkably, the stem cell research field is growing over twice as fast (7%) as the reported world average growth in research, which is 2.9%. Since 2008, the annual growth rate of studies on one rapidly grown type of stem cell, induced pluripotent stem cells, the discovery of which was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2012, is an astonishing 77%. A significant increase in the volume of research output and publications has been reported in all areas of stem cell research. Major advances have been achieved in the stem cell research field by the generation of the first functioning whole organ, the thymus, in the laboratory, and the first documented human baby girl from in vitro fertilization, who now has children of her own. Stem cell and biomedical research is under way in various national and international laboratories with ambitious goals of generating several other functioning whole organs, including kidney and intestine. Advances in stem cell biology have seen the rise of an exciting new field of regenerative medicine and research. Regenerative medicine is a multidisciplinary branch of translational research in tissue engineering and molecular biology, which deals with the “process of replacing, engineering, or regenerating human cells, tissues, or organs to restore or establish normal function” Regenerative medicine, therefore, aims at repairing injured tissues to restore normal cellular function. This field holds the promise of engineering damaged Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Human Health and Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-819713-4.00001-3 Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
1
2 Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Human Health and Diseases
tissues/organs via stimulation of the body’s own repair mechanisms to functionally heal previously irreparable tissues/organs. Several classes of stem cells that originate from different mesenchymal compartments of the body, including the marrow, amnion, adipose tissue, and amniotic fluid, exert promising therapeutic effects in some important human fibrotic and inflammatory diseases, identifying the next generation of cellbased therapy of human diseases based on mesenchymal stem cells. As of this writing, the cell population that is most commonly studied in clinical trials comprises mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs), which are self-renewing multipotent cells. MSCs are, therefore, the most commonly used cell-based therapy in clinical trials because of their regenerative effects. Experimental and clinical studies have provided promising results using MSCs to treat diabetes. The therapeutic potential of MSCs is based on their remarkable ability to differentiate into multiple cell types, ease of isolation, low immunogenicity, and capacity to secrete multiple biologic factors that can restore, repair, and alleviate injured or impaired tissues. Preclinical and clinical evidence has substantiated the therapeutic benefit of MSCs in various medical conditions. MSCs are widely distributed in the body and can therefore be isolated from multiple sources, including the bone marrow, heart, bodily fluids, skin, and perinatal tissues. They can react to microenvironmental changes (stress, pH, oxygen) by releasing immune modulatory and trophic factors known to regenerate injured cells and tissues. Experimental findings in neurodegenerative and cardiovascular disease have supported the rapid growth of cell-based research. At this writing, 695 US clinical trials are testing the utility of MSCs as therapeutic agents for an array of medical conditions. Understanding the biology of MSCs and their mechanisms of development and function could identify innovative solutions for the treatment of many stem-based diseases/disorders, restoring normal morphogenesis and/or regeneration of various organs. There are also likely to be advances in the potential applications of these stem cells in the repair and regeneration of various organs after injury, as well as in the treatments of various human diseases. Applying recent discoveries in MSC biology and regenerative medicine for the betterment of human diseases has brought forth much hope, but continues to present many challenges. The hope for cures has motivated different states and countries worldwide to invest in stem cell and regenerative medicine research. For instance, the people of California have been prompted to strongly mandate an amendment to the state’s constitution establishing the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Annual Report, 2018) with a $3 billion bond issue. This state-based funding has significantly boosted research on stem cells and regenerative medicine in California and other states (Alberta et al., 2015). Similar interests and investments in the stem cell, regenerative medicine, and cellular
Mesenchymal stem cells in regenerative medicine and diseases Chapter | 1
3
therapeutics field are now in process in Japan, Germany, Australia, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere. Therefore, stem cell research growth is twice as fast (7%) as the world average growth in research, which is almost 3%, and stem cell-based published articles are cited 50% more often than the world average for all related subject areas, according to the report Stem Cell Research: Trends and perspectives on the evolving international landscape (2013). This book contains a global collection of monograph essays from collaborating research scientists at various research institutes and countries worldwide. They describe exciting progress in MSC biology and regenerative medicine, including MSC applications in the treatment of human diseases. The book includes insights ranging from MSC biology and development through the derivation and characterization of MSCs, as well as their applications in tissue repair/regeneration and important human diseases. This book, therefore, discusses the fact-based promise of MSC therapeutics and regenerative medicine in the real world.
References Alberta, H.B., Cheng, A., Jackson, E.L., Pjecha, M., Levine, A.D., 2015. Assessing state stem cell programs in the United States: how has state funding affected publication trends? Cell Stem Cell 16 (2), 115e118. California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, 2018. California Stem Cell Report 2018. https:// www.cirm.ca.gov/sites/default/files/files/about_cirm/CIRM%202018%20Annual%20Report.pdf. Stem Cell Research: Trends and perspectives on the evolving international landscape, 2013. A Joint Report by Elsevier, EuroStemCell and Kyoto University’s Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS) Including Scientists’ and Other Stakeholders’ Views on Current Progress and Future Expectations for the Field. https://www.elsevier.com/__data/assets/ pdf_file/0005/53177/Stem-Cell-Report-Trends-and-Perspectives-on-the-Evolving-InternationalLandscape_Dec2013.pdf.
Further reading Ralston, M., 2008. Stem Cell Research Around the World. https://www.pewforum.org/2008/07/17/ stem-cell-research-around-the-world/.