Stromal Cell Ultrastructure

Abstract

Regenerative medicine and tissue engineering therapies present an attractive treatment alternative to the current traditional clinical treatments. Stem cells are capable of selfrenewal and multilineage differentiation. They also have the ability to create immunomodulatory microenvironment, and thus help to minimize organ damage caused by the inflammation and cells activated by the immune system. Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) have great potential for cellular therapy, as they possess the abilities to proliferate as well as to differentiate. MSCs are present in all tissues interacting with tissue cells and easy to isolate and expand in culture. Indeed, histological examination of MSCs is one of the main goals for studying their morphology. Both the light and the electron microscopes are essential tools where the histologist can identify the structure as well as the detailed ultrastructure of these cells. This will guide users to clearly understand their behavior, both in vivo and in vitro. Thus, the aim of this chapter is to give a spot of light on these cells and their histology.