Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells for Therapeutic Angiogenesis

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are known to possess medicinal properties to facilitate vascular regeneration. Recent advances in the understanding of the utilities of MSCs in physiological/pathological tissue repair and technologies in isolation, expansion, and enhancement strategies have led to the use of MSCs for vascular disease-related treatments. Various conditions, including chronic arterial occlusive disease, diabetic ulcers, and chronic wounds, cause significant morbidity in patients. Therapeutic angiogenesis by cell therapy has led to the possibilities of treatment options in promoting angiogenesis, treating chronic wounds, and improving amputation-free survival. Current perspectives on the options for the use of MSCs for therapeutic angiogenesis in vascular research and in medicine, either as a monotherapy or in combination with conventional interventions, for treating patients with peripheral artery diseases are discussed in this review.

The role of mesenchymal stem cells in cancer and prospects for their use in cancer therapeutics

“…MSCs have been shown to stimulate angiogenesis, as evidenced by relevant reports highlighting the potential therapeutic applications of this characteristic in the treatment of severe ischemic limb diseases. 159 , 160 , 161 Likewise, the property of MSCs to induce angiogenesis within tumor tissues can be exploited by tumor cells. High levels of cytokines and angiogenesis‐stimulating growth factors, such as IL‐6, IL‐8, βFGF, FGF‐2, PDGF, VEGF, TGFβ, and angiopoietin, are released by MSCs, thereby promoting tumor angiogenesis.…”