Embryonic and mesenchymal stem cells: An examination of the rapidly narrowing gap between their proven abilities

doi:10.15406/jsrt.2018.04.00108

Journal of

eISSN: 2475-5540

Stem Cell Research & Therapeutics

Short Communication Volume 4 Issue 1

Embryonic and mesenchymal stem cells: An examination of the rapidly narrowing gap between their proven abilities

Amanda Baracho Trindade Hill,

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Joaquim Mansano Garcia

Sao Paulo State University, Brazil

Correspondence: Amanda Baracho Trindade Hill, Sao Paulo State University ? FCAV, Jaboticabal?SP, Brazil, Tel +5 5169 9712 0331

Received: March 06, 2018 | Published: March 12, 2018

Citation: Hill ABT, Garcia JM. Embryonic and mesenchymal stem cells: An examination of the rapidly narrowing gap between their proven abilities. J Stem Cell Res Ther. 2018;4(1):19. DOI: 10.15406/jsrt.2018.04.00108

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Abstract

It has become clear that adult mammalian organisms contain populations of adult stem cells, one of which can be called mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). These cells are undifferentiated, have the ability to self-renew, differentiate into other cell types, and contribute to the maintenance and regeneration of tissue. Over the past decade, multiple studies have demonstrated the ability of MSCs to differentiate into non-mesenchymal lineages, challenging the previously held assumption that only embryonic stem cells (ESCs) were able to differentiate into all three germ layers. Due to their ease of isolation, ease of expansion in vitro, and wide differentiation potential, MSCs have become an attractive cell source for tissue engineering applications. The use of mesenchymal stem cells represents an important opportunity for the development of new therapies using stem cell technologies.

Short Communication

Stem cell therapy and biology have displayed increasingly concrete potential resolutions to a diversity of obstacles in the treatment of chronic and degenerative diseases over the past decade. Encouraging results continue to be generated, further increasing the amount of interest in the field and the number of studies performed, giving hope to patients with, until now, incurable chronic and degenerative diseases with few new ideas on the horizon.

Stem cells are defined by their ability to self-renew and to differentiate. These cells are responsible for the development of the organism where, in the early embryo, the stem cells in the inner cell mass differentiate into all cell types that form the body. While, the trophectoderm cells differentiate into extra embryonic lineage.¹ In an adult body, stem cells are known as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and regulate tissue turnover. Those cells have been described as having a restricted potential for differentiation when compared to embryonic stem cells (ESCs) that, as previously mentioned, can differentiate into all cell types in an organism.¹ Mesenchymal stem cells have received a lot of attention lately, specifically due to the facts that they are easy to isolate, have tropic and immunosuppressive effects, and have the potential for triploblastic differentiation under the right conditions.² On the contrary, the use of ESCs involves ethical problems due to the fact that their harvest requires the destruction of an embryo; and they also present a technical barrier in that any treatments using ESCs will not be autologous. According to Gazit et al.³ MSCs are the subject of an ongoing public discussion involving concerns and challenges regarding the veracity of the definition of their comparatively limited differentiability, the central question being the potential of differentiation into cells that are not of mesenchymal nature. Over the past decade, it has been questioned whether the differences that previously seemed to exist between embryonic and mesenchymal stem cells do exist at all. Many studies have shown evidence that MSCs can differentiate into all germ layers, further increasing research and clinical interest regarding MSCs⁴.

Many researchers have focused their efforts on MSCs, attempting to elucidate better ways to grow a large amount of adult stem cells in laboratories and to induce differentiation of specific cell types; targeting specific treatments of diseases or repair of tissue injuries.⁵ Our group showed that canine MSCs were able to differentiate into endodermal, ectodermal, mesodermal and even primordial germ cell precursors in vitro.⁶ Many other studies have also shown the potential of MSCs to differentiate into all non mesodermal lineages with the notable and clinically advantageous exception of teratomas, further increasing clinical interest.²

Finding reliable sources of cells with wide differentiation capacity in adult organisms would provide a promising tool for regenerative medicine, specifically in facilitating autologous treatment.