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The elusive nature and function of mesenchymal stem cells

Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology volume 12, pages 126–131 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a diverse subset of multipotent precursors present in the stromal fraction of many adult tissues and have drawn intense interest from translational and basic investigators. MSCs have been operationally defined by their ability to differentiate into osteoblasts, adipocytes and chondrocytes after in vitro expansion. Nevertheless, their identity in vivo, heterogeneity, anatomical localization and functional roles in adult tissue homeostasis have remained enigmatic and are only just starting to be uncovered.

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Figure 1: MSCs and multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells.
Figure 2: Proposed biological functions of BM-resident MSCs in vivo.

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Acknowledgements

L.E.S. is supported by grants P01 HL095489 and R01 HL093139, and contract HHSN268201000009C from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, USA. J.R. is supported by grant P01 CA78378 from the National Cancer Institute, USA, and grant P01 CA142106 and contract HHSN268201000009C from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. C.N-A. is a recipient of Human Frontiers in Science Program long-term fellowship 00194/2008-L.

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  1. César Nombela-Arrieta, Jerome Ritz and Leslie E. Silberstein: César Nombela-Arrieta and Leslie E. Silberstein are members of the Joint Program in Transfusion Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.

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  1. Jerome Ritz is at the Division of Haematologic Malignancies, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney Street, Mayer 530, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.,

    Jerome Ritz

  2. Division of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Jerome Ritz and Leslie E. Silberstein are also at the Center for Human Cell Therapy, Children's Hospital Boston, Karp Research Building, One Blackfan Circle, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.,

    Jerome Ritz & Leslie E. Silberstein

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Nombela-Arrieta, C., Ritz, J. & Silberstein, L. The elusive nature and function of mesenchymal stem cells. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 12, 126–131 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm3049

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