Ferrari, M., Corradi, A., Lazzaretti, M., De’Cillà, M., Losi, C.G., Villa, R. and Lanfranchi, A., 2007. Adult stem cells: Perspectives for therapeutic applications. Veterinary Research Communications, 31(Suppl. 1), 1–8
Abstract
The use of adult stem cells in tissue regeneration appears to be a powerful research tool, due to the intrinsic characteristics of these cells, i.e., self-renewal and unlimited capacity for proliferation. In particular, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) obtained from bone marrow or peripheral blood can be easily isolated, cultivated, propagated and can be differentiated into several specialized cell types thanks to their plasticity. Among these cells, MSCs can evolve into cardiac cell lineages. Since heart damage leads to the irreversible loss of cardiac function, cell transplantation could be a potential therapy for heart injury. Our laboratory has focused on the purification and expansion of rat and sheep MSCs, their differentiation into cardiomyocytes and their characterisation. Numerous results indicate that MSCs could be promising for therapy, however we need to better understand the biology of stem cells to improve methods for delivery and/or pharmacological activation. These techniques can indeed track engrafted cells and systems to guarantee their safe use.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alvarez-Dolado M., Pardal R., Garcia-Verdugo J.M., Fike J.R., Lee H.O., Pfeffer K., Lois C., Morrison S.J. and Alvarez-Buylla A., 2003. Fusion of bone-marrow-derived cells with Purkinje neurons, cardiomyocytes and hepatocytes. Nature, 425, 968–973
Crovace A. and Lacitignola L., 2006. Trattamento delle lesioni tendinee nel cavallo mediante trapianto autologo di cellule monucleate di midollo osseo: Esperienze cliniche preliminari. XII Congresso SIVE, Bologna, Italy, 162–163
Diduch D.R., Jordan L.C., Mierisch C.M. and Balian G., 2000. Marrow stromal cells embedded in alginate for repair of osteochondral defects. Arthroscopy, 16, 571–577
Fortier L.A., 2005. Stem cells: classification, controversies, and clinical applications. Veterinary Surgery, 34, 415–423
Gao J. and Caplan A.I., 2003. Mesenchymal stem cells and tissue engineering for orthopaedic surgery. Chirurgia degli Organi di Movimento, 88, 305–316
Le Blanc K., Gotherstrom C., Tammik C. and Ringden O., 2003. HLA expression and immunologic properties of differentiated and undifferentiated adult and fetal mesenchymal stem cells. Bone Marrow Transplantation, 31, S244–S245
Liu Y., Song J., Liu W., Wan Y., Chen X. and Hu C., 2003. Growth and differentiation of rat bone stromal cells: does 5-azacytidine trigger their cardiomyogenic differentiation? Cardiovascular Research, 58, 460–468
Makino S., Fukuda K., Miyoshi S., Konishi F., Kodama H., Pan J., Sano M., Takahashi T., Hori S., Abe H., Hata J., Umezawa A. and Ogawa S., 1999. Cardiomyocytes can be generated from stromal cells in vitro. Journal Clinical Investigation, 103, 697–705
Martin D.R., Cox N.R., Hathock T.L., Niemeyer G.P. and Baker H.J., 2002. Isolation and characterization of multipotential mesenchymal stem cells from feline bone marrow. Experimental Hematology, 30, 879–886
Murry C.E., Soonpaa M.H., Reinecke H., Nakajima H., Nakajima H.O., Rubart M., Pasumarthi K.B., Virag J.I., Bartelmez S.H., Poppa V., Bradford G., Dowell J.D., Williams D.A. and Field L.J., 2004. Haematopoietic stem cells do not transdifferentiate into cardiac myocytes in myocardial infarcts. Nature, 428, 664–668
Prockop D.J., 1997. Marrow stromal cells as stem cells for nonhematopoietic tissues. Science, 276, 71–74
Quaini F., Urbanek K., Beltrami A.P., Finato N., Beltrami C.A., Nadal-Ginard B., Kajstura J., Leri A. and Anversa P., 2002. Chimerism of the transplanted heart. New England Journal of Medicine, 346, 5–15
Simmons P.J. and Torok-Storb B., 1991. Identification of stromal cell precursors in human bone marrow by a novel monoclonal antibody, STRO-1. Blood, 78, 55–62
Smith R.K., Korda M., Blunn G.W. and Goodship A.E., 2003. Isolation and implantation of autologous equine mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow into the superficial digital flexor tendon as a potential novel treatment. Equine Veterinary Journal, 35, 99–102
Wakitani S., Saito T. and Caplan A.I., 1995. Myogenic cells derived from rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells exposed to 5-azacytidine. Muscle and Nerve, 18, 1417–1426
Watanabe F.D., Mullon C.J., Hewitt W.R., Arkadopoulos N., Kahaku E., Eguchi S., Khalili T., Arnaout W., Shackleton C.R., Rozga J., Solomon B. and Demetriou A.A., 1997. Clinical experience with a bioartificial liver in the treatment of severe liver failure. A phase I clinical trial. Annals of Surgery, 225, 484–491
Xu W., Zhang X., Qian H., Zhu, W., Sun X., Hu J., Zhou H. and Chen Y., 2004. Mesenchymal stem cells from adult human bone marrow differentiate into a cardiomyocyte phenotype in vitro. Experimental Biology and Medicine, 229, 623–631
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ferrari, M., Corradi, A., Lazzaretti, M. et al. Adult Stem Cells: Perspectives for Therapeutic Applications. Vet Res Commun 31 (Suppl 1), 1–8 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-007-0003-x
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-007-0003-x