Transplantation Technologies & Research

Advances in Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Properties

Abstract

Roberta Rizzo

Human multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs) represent stem cells for non-hematopoietic tissues. The main interest in hMSCs is correlated with their ability to suppress the proliferation of CD8+ T lymphocytes regulating the transplantation rejection. Moreover, hMSCs are able to inhibit the differentiation of dendritic cells, the proliferation and antibody production of B lymphocytes and they stimulate the formation of regulatory T cells. The mechanisms at the basis of MSCs activity need cell-cell interaction and the secretion of soluble molecules into the microenvironment as hepatocyte growth factor, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), interleukin-10 and -2 (IL-10, IL-2), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-G