Mesenchymal stem cells

ScientificConcept

Multipotent stem cells used as a delivery mechanism for gene therapies like FOXO3.


First Mentioned

3/29/2026, 12:11:11 AM

Last Updated

3/29/2026, 12:14:56 AM

Research Retrieved

3/29/2026, 12:14:56 AM

Summary

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), also known as mesenchymal stromal cells or medicinal signaling cells, are multipotent stromal cells derived from the mesoderm that play a critical role in tissue repair and immune modulation. Found in various adult tissues such as bone marrow, adipose tissue, and the umbilical cord, they possess the ability to differentiate into osteoblasts, chondrocytes, myocytes, and adipocytes. Beyond their natural regenerative functions, MSCs are being explored in cutting-edge longevity and gene therapy protocols. For instance, Bryan Johnson has discussed using MSCs as a delivery vehicle for the FOXO3 gene to achieve systemic tissue regeneration. While their therapeutic potential for conditions like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Multiple Sclerosis is widely researched, the nomenclature remains a subject of scientific debate, with some experts preferring the term 'stromal cells' to reflect their heterogeneous nature and signaling roles.

Referenced in 1 Document
Research Data
Extracted Attributes
  • Synonyms

    Mesenchymal stromal cells, medicinal signaling cells, MSCs

  • Cell Type

    Multipotent stromal cells

  • Primary Sources

    Bone marrow, adipose tissue, umbilical cord, endometrial polyps, menses blood

  • Embryonic Origin

    Mesoderm

  • Primary Function

    Response to injury/infection, secretion of biological factors, modulation of inflammation

  • Differentiation Potential

    Osteoblasts (bone), chondrocytes (cartilage), myocytes (muscle), adipocytes (fat), fibroblasts

  • Scientific Literature Volume

    Over 80,000 peer-reviewed papers

Timeline
  • Scientists Ernest A. McCulloch and James E. Till reveal the clonal nature of marrow cells. (Source: Wikipedia)

    1960-01-01

  • Arnold Caplan identifies conditions for mesodermal cell differentiation and names them mesenchymal stem cells. (Source: Wikipedia)

    1970-01-01

  • Friedenstein and colleagues report an ex vivo assay (CFU-f) for examining the clonogenic potential of multipotent marrow cells. (Source: Wikipedia)

    1975-01-01

  • Publication of a major review on MSC isolation from various tissues including umbilical cord and adipose tissue. (Source: PubMed (PMID: 21396235))

    2011-01-01

  • Bryan Johnson discusses the use of MSCs for FOXO3 gene delivery and tissue regeneration on the All-In Podcast. (Source: Document ee8d91a3-7a9e-4ab7-a219-26100b6be97d)

    2023-10-01

Mesenchymal stem cell

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), also known as mesenchymal stromal cells or medicinal signaling cells, are multipotent stromal cells that can differentiate into a variety of cell types, including osteoblasts (bone-making cells), chondrocytes (cartilage cells), myocytes (muscle cells) and adipocytes (fat cells which give rise to marrow adipose tissue). The primary function of MSCs is to respond to injury and infection by secreting and recruiting a range of biological factors, as well as modulating inflammatory processes to facilitate tissue repair and regeneration. Extensive research interest has led to more than 80,000 peer-reviewed papers on MSCs.

Web Search Results
  • Mesenchymal stem cell - Wikipedia

    Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), also known as mesenchymal stromal cells or medicinal signaling cells, are multipotent stromal cells that can differentiate into a variety of cell types, including osteoblasts (bone-making cells), chondrocytes (cartilage cells), myocytes (muscle cells) and adipocytes (fat cells which give rise to marrow adipose tissue). The primary function of MSCs is to respond to injury and infection by secreting and recruiting a range of biological factors, as well as modulating inflammatory processes to facilitate tissue repair and regeneration. Extensive research interest has led to more than 80,000 peer-reviewed papers on MSCs. ## Structure [edit] ### Definition [edit] [...] ## Controversies [edit] The term "mesenchymal stem cells" has been debated for years and remains controversial, despite its widespread adoption in scientific literature. It has been argued that "mesenchymal stem cells" or "MSCs" are not 'mesenchymal in origin' nor are they bonafide 'stem cells.' Most mesenchymal cell or "MSC" preps only contain a minority fraction of true multipotent stem cells, with most cells being stromal in nature, and it has been proposed that the term should be renamed to 'mesenchymal stromal cells'. Caplan proposed rephrasing MSCs to emphasize their role as "medicinal signaling cells." Within the stem cell field, the shorthand "MSC" most commonly refers to "mesenchymal stromal/stem cells" because of the heterogeneous nature of the cellular preparations. [...] ## History [edit] Scientists Ernest A. McCulloch and James E. Till first revealed the clonal nature of marrow cells in the 1960s. In 1970, Arnold Caplan identified certain conditions by which mesodermal cells differentiate into cartilage or myogenic (muscle) tissue and bone and named them mesenchymal stem cells. An ex vivo assay for examining the clonogenic potential of multipotent marrow cells was later reported in the 1970s by Friedenstein and colleagues. In this assay system, stromal cells were referred to as colony-forming unit-fibroblasts (CFU-f).[citation needed]

  • Mesenchymal stem cells

    Stem cells have two features: the ability to differentiate along different lineages and the ability of self-renewal. Two major types of stem cells have been described, namely, embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells (ESC) are obtained from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst and are associated with tumorigenesis, and the use of human ESCs involves ethical and legal considerations. The use of adult mesenchymal stem cells is less problematic with regard to these issues. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are stromal cells that have the ability to self-renew and also exhibit multilineage differentiation. MSCs can be isolated from a variety of tissues, such as umbilical cord, endometrial polyps, menses blood, bone marrow, adipose tissue, etc. This is because the ease of [...] Clipboard My Bibliography Collections Citation manager Display options Format ## Save citation to file ## Email citation Email address has not been verified. Go to My NCBI account settings to confirm your email and then refresh this page. ### Add to Collections ### Add to My Bibliography ## Your saved search ## Create a file for external citation management software ## Your RSS Feed Review Actions Search in PubMed Search in NLM Catalog Add to Search . 2011;20(1):5-14. doi: 10.3727/096368910X. # Mesenchymal stem cells Dah-Ching Ding1 , Woei-Cherng Shyu, Shinn-Zong Lin Affiliations ### Affiliation 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan, ROC. PMID: 21396235 DOI: 10.3727/096368910X

  • Harnessing the Power of Mesenchymal Stem Cells - REPROCELL

    Mesenchymal Stem Cells offer a promising avenue for disease modelling and therapy development. One area of focus is on neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. In the case of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, exosomes and the secretome are increasingly used as therapeutic agents2 to modulate degeneration and promote healing. iPSC- derived MSC lines generated from patients provide an opportunity to create personalized consistent in vitro models without the concern of exhausting the cell bank. [...] Tagged: Stem Cells Rapid advancements in biomedical research have underscored the need for new drug discovery tools that offer a transformative pathway to expedite the identification and development of novel therapeutic interventions. Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs; also known as Mesenchymal Stromal Cells or Medicinal Signaling Cells) provide researchers with a crucial tool they need to revolutionize therapeutic development. [...] In regenerative medicine, MSCs are remarkable for their ability to differentiate into bone, cartilage, muscle, and adipose cells, making them valuable for both basic research and therapeutic applications. This versatility extends to drug studies, where MSCs provide insights into drug effects on various cell types. Their regenerative potential holds promise for treating a wide range of medical conditions, from bone defects to neurodegenerative diseases. MSC differentiation studies aid in identifying drug targets and understanding drug effectiveness and safety, shaping the future of pharmaceutical innovation.

  • Mesenchymal cells: definition, origin and functions

    Mesenchymal cells 1/2 Synonyms: none Mesenchymal cells are small spindle-shaped cells with large nuclei, prominent nucleoli and fine chromatin. These are multipotent stem cells that differentiate as progenitor cells for all types of connective tissue, such as fibroblasts, osteoblasts, chondroblasts and preadipocytes. Mesenchymal cells produce an extracellular matrix (ECM) that consists mainly of a simple ground substance rich in hyaluronic acid. The mesenchymal cells, together with their ECM, compose the mesenchyme, a type of embryonic connective tissue that gives rise to all other connective tissues of the body during early development. [...] In adults, mesenchymal cells are present in small quantities as part of loose connective tissue mainly in the umbilical cord, bone marrow and adipose tissue. Adult mesenchymal stem cells serve to give rise to fibroblasts and new blood vessels. | | | --- | | Terminology | English: Mesenchymal cells Synonyms: Mesenchymal stem cells, mesenchymal stromal cells | | Definition | Multipotent stem cells that differentiate as progenitor cells for all types of connective tissue | | Origin | Mesoderm | | Differentiation | Embryo: Fibroblasts, chondroblasts, osteoblasts, preadipocytes, myoblasts Adult: Fibroblasts, blood vessels | Learn more about the loose connective tissue with the study unit below: Learn faster Loose connective tissue Explore study unit ## Sources

  • Mesenchymal stem cell therapy (MSCT) - MS Society

    ## Site search ## Primary navigation ## Primary navigation # Mesenchymal stem cell therapy (MSCT) Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are found in many parts of the body and are usually taken from bone marrow, skin and fat tissue. They can produce many different types of cells, including muscle and cartilage. Early research suggests they might help to promote myelin repair and have a positive effect on the immune system. ## MSCT for MS - what do we know? [...] ## Behind the headlines: MSCT and MS MSCT (or mesenchymal stem cell therapy) is an exciting new area of research being explored as an MS treatment. And it was featured in a Channel 4 documentary which followed lawyer Mark Lewis as he took part in an MSCT trial in Jerusalem. ## Under the microscope: What can stem cell science do for MS? Stem cell research has come on leaps and bounds over the past few decades, and shows great promise for finding treatments for MS. ## Explore our research Right now we’re funding dozens of projects to help improve diagnosis, treatments and services for everyone. With your help we’re making groundbreaking discoveries. Back to top ## Connect with us Registered with Fundraising Regulator home Registered with Fundraising Regulator home [...] ## MSCT for MS - what do we know? Researchers are exploring the potential of mesenchymal stem cell therapy to protect nerves from damage and to encourage the repair of existing damage. A number of pilot studies have investigated the safety and effectiveness of MSCT. These studies have highlighted a number of minor side effects, and have revealed some promising early results. MSCT involves isolating MSCs from the bone marrow. These cells are then multiplied in the lab and infused back into the blood or the fluid surrounding the spinal cord of the person undergoing therapy. ### Promising results in a mouse model of MS