TY - JOUR
T1 - Mesenchymal stem cells from the Wharton's jelly of the human umbilical cord
T2 - Biological properties and therapeutic potential
AU - Marino, Luigi
AU - Castaldi, Maria Antonietta
AU - Rosamilio, Rosa
AU - Ragni, Enrico
AU - Vitolo, Rosa
AU - Fulgione, Caterina
AU - Castaldi, Salvatore Giovanni
AU - Serio, Bianca
AU - Bianco, Rosario
AU - Guida, Maurizio
AU - Selleri, Carmine
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs) are a class of stem cells with high differentiative potential, an immuno-privileged status and easy access for collection, which raise no legal or ethical issues. WJ-MSCs exhibit several features of embryonic stem cells, both in the phenotypic and genetic aspects, with only a few differences, such as a shorter doubling time and a more extensive ex vivo expansion capacity. WJ-MSCs have immunomodulatory properties, involving both innate and adaptive immune responses. This review focuses on the role of WJ-MSCs in the management of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), a life-threatening complication of the allogenic transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells. Different studies documented the beneficial effect of the infusion of WJ-MSCs, even when not fully HLA identical, in patients with severe GvHD, refractory to standard treatment. Finally, we summarized current ongoing clinical trials with WJ-MSCs and their potential in regenerative medicine.
AB - Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs) are a class of stem cells with high differentiative potential, an immuno-privileged status and easy access for collection, which raise no legal or ethical issues. WJ-MSCs exhibit several features of embryonic stem cells, both in the phenotypic and genetic aspects, with only a few differences, such as a shorter doubling time and a more extensive ex vivo expansion capacity. WJ-MSCs have immunomodulatory properties, involving both innate and adaptive immune responses. This review focuses on the role of WJ-MSCs in the management of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), a life-threatening complication of the allogenic transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells. Different studies documented the beneficial effect of the infusion of WJ-MSCs, even when not fully HLA identical, in patients with severe GvHD, refractory to standard treatment. Finally, we summarized current ongoing clinical trials with WJ-MSCs and their potential in regenerative medicine.
KW - GvHD
KW - Human umbilical cord blood
KW - Immunomodulation
KW - Mesenchymal stem cells
KW - WJ-MSCs
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85071441696&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.15283/ijsc18034
DO - 10.15283/ijsc18034
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85071441696
VL - 12
SP - 218
EP - 226
JO - International Journal of Stem Cells
JF - International Journal of Stem Cells
SN - 2005-3606
IS - 2
ER -