Mesenchymal stem cell homing: the devil is in the details

Cell Stem Cell. 2009 Mar 6;4(3):206-16. doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2009.02.001.

Abstract

The study of MSC trafficking is clinically relevant for minimally invasive cell therapy to promote regeneration of damaged tissue, to treat inflammation, and to promote angiogenesis. However, these studies are complicated by the diverse methods used to culture, characterize, and deliver MSCs and by the variety of methods used to assess homing events. This review provides a critical analysis of the methods used to track homing of exogenously infused MSCs and discusses strategies for enhancing their trafficking to particular tissues.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Movement / physiology*
  • Chemotaxis / physiology
  • Cytological Techniques*
  • Humans
  • Integrins / physiology
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / physiology*
  • Phenotype

Substances

  • Integrins