Mesenchymal stem cell

Mesenchymal stem cells ( mesenchymal stem cells, MSC) are progenitor cells of the connective tissue ( soft tissue ).

Definition

Mesenchymal stem cells have a high proliferation and differentiation potential. Adult Mesenchymal stem cells contribute to the maintenance and regeneration of the supporting and connective tissue such as bone, cartilage, muscle, ligaments, tendons and adipose tissue in. They also support the growth and development of the precursor cells of the blood in the bone marrow ( hematopoiesis ).

Characteristics

MSC from different tissues (bone marrow, cartilage, adipose tissue, muscle, liver tissue, blood, amniotic fluid ) can be cultured and differentiated in vitro in different tissues. The specific functional differentiation can be actively controlled by activation or suppression of genes; this results in the hematopoiesis supporting formation of bone marrow stroma or they differentiate into osteogenic, chondrogenic or adipogenic cells.

In addition, differentiated MSC able to transform itself into another tissue and adapt to new environmental conditions. Sensing for this regeneration and growth processes are cell - cell contact and the secretion of growth factors and cytokines.

Clinical Significance

The recovery is due to the high proportion of stem cells as well as the easy access, mostly from the bone marrow (aspiration from the iliac crest, and tibia or femur ). In the stem the blood-forming constituents from the bone marrow (or peripheral blood ) are transferred to the previously treated by total body irradiation or high - dose chemotherapy tumor patients; play the MSC for the reconstruction of the destroyed bone marrow a significant role.

Tumors, presumably derived from the MSC to soft tissue sarcomas call; they can in principle occur anywhere in the body and make up about 6 % of all cancers in childhood and adolescence from.