Mesenchymal stem cell
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), also called mesenchymal stromal cells or multipotent stromal cells, are a multipotent, plastic-adherent cell type resident in the stromal compartment of many tissues — most prominently bone marrow, umbilical cord, adipose tissue, and the dental pulp of exfoliated deciduous teeth (the source of SHED).
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), also called mesenchymal stromal cells or multipotent stromal cells, are a multipotent, plastic-adherent cell type resident in the stromal compartment of many tissues — most prominently bone marrow, umbilical cord, adipose tissue, and the dental pulp of exfoliated deciduous teeth (the source of SHED). They act as progenitor and support cells rather than terminally differentiated cells: they can differentiate along osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic lineages, and under defined stimulation can be directed toward other fates, including insulin-producing cells. In their native niche, MSCs help build the microenvironment that sustains neighboring populations; in bone marrow they contribute to the stromal network supporting hematopoietic stem cell retention and maintenance. Preparations are frequently named by tissue of origin — bone marrow–derived (BMSC), umbilical cord–derived (UC-MSC), and SHED — and clinical material is often obtained from concentrated bone marrow aspirate.
The therapeutic interest in MSCs rests less on direct structural replacement of damaged tissue than on their immunomodulatory and trophic activity. MSCs secrete a broad range of bioactive factors and release extracellular vesicles, including exosomes carrying microRNAs and proteins, that act on surrounding cells in a paracrine fashion — dampening proinflammatory cytokine signaling such as Tnf-α, limiting oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species, and engaging survival and growth signaling through the PTEN/Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Protein kinase B (PKB)/mTOR axis. This repertoire underlies the range of conditions in which MSC transplantation has been explored: inflammatory and immune-mediated disease, chronic renal insufficiency, diabetes, myocardial infarction, spinal cord and other neurological injury, neonatal lung injury and bronchopulmonary dysplasia, post-infectious hydrocephalus, and hepatic fibrosis. A recurring limitation is that transplanted MSCs survive poorly and lose stable secretory function in hostile microenvironments such as the infarcted heart, and the cells are themselves prone to cellular senescence with expansion and donor age. Much current work therefore targets the delivery context — hydrogels and microgels of tuned stiffness, decellularized extracellular matrix, chitosan and other biomaterial carriers, aptamer-based enrichment of endogenous cells, and priming agents such as platelet-rich plasma or melatonin — to enrich, retain, and sustain MSC function at the injury site, or on using MSC-derived extracellular vesicles as a cell-free alternative.
Where the papers sit
31 papers from the last 6 months study mesenchymal stem cell directly · updated from PubMed 12 Oct 2026
Study type 4 clinical trials · 3 observational · 2 human data · 21 preclinical · 1 unclassified
Themes 4 themes · 2 new directions
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Stem Cell Delivery and Immunity
Improving mesenchymal stromal cell survival, retention and tissue-specific activity is the main goal. Hydrogels, microgels, surface engineering and aptamers are being used to support delivery, enrichment, osteogenesis and paracrine signaling. Immune effects recur, including hematopoietic stem-cell retention and dendritic-cell immunometabolic reprogramming. Applications range from diabetic bone repair and Parkinson’s disease to systemic sclerosis, leaving optimal material design and disease matching open.
8 papers · 25.8%
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Regenerative Cell Therapies
Regenerative applications are moving toward clinical testing while retaining biomaterial and imaging support for cell function and tracking. Umbilical-cord mesenchymal stromal cells are being evaluated for COVID-19 respiratory disease and bronchopulmonary dysplasia, alongside tissue repair in myocardium, skin and joints. Extracellular-matrix particles, exosomes and donor-cell profiling aim to improve paracrine activity and identify responders. Clinical benefit remains variable, making patient selection and durable cell tracking central questions.
6 papers · 19.4%
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Stem Cell Neural Repair
Neural injury and brain aging dominate, with attention to reducing neuronal apoptosis and autophagy while restoring function. Platelet-rich plasma priming of exosomes and heat-shock preconditioning are used to strengthen paracrine effects. PET/CT and sequencing support assessment of engraftment or tissue response, but evidence remains mainly preclinical. Standardized reporting for biologic therapies remains an unresolved need.
4 papers · 12.9%
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Others — Multisystem Stem Cell Therapy
Mesenchymal stem cell therapy is being tested across bone, liver, neurologic, inflammatory and metabolic disorders rather than converging on one disease area. Recurring approaches include hypoxia or pharmacologic preconditioning, extracellular-matrix-inspired scaffolds and combination rehabilitation. Outcomes span mineralization, wound healing, neurogenesis, inflammatory burden and organ function. The set establishes broad therapeutic exploration but does not show a single consistent clinical direction.
13 papers · 41.9%
Mesenchymal stem cells become endogenous targets for cell-free bone regeneration
The aptamer-functionalized stiff hydrogel for bone regeneration assumes that osteogenic repair is improved by supplying or delivering mesenchymal stem cells, but instead uses the scaffold to enrich the patient’s endogenous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and then direct their differentiation through a stiffness gradient. This recasts the cells from transplanted therapeutic agents into an in situ-sourced cellular resource for a cell-free osteogenic material 42461853Jul.
Mesenchymal stromal cells become engineered bone-marrow niche cells that retain hematopoietic stem cells
The microgel bone marrow model for hematopoietic stem-cell culture assumes mesenchymal stromal cells primarily function as therapeutic or regenerative cells for damaged tissues, but instead deploys them as encapsulated niche cells whose paracrine signaling maintains long-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cells ex vivo in a density-dependent manner. The resulting role is construction of a synthetic marrow-support system rather than direct treatment of injured tissue 42248284Jun.
Papers
The 31 papers from the last 6 months that study mesenchymal stem cell directly, newest first, by theme and by study type. Study types come from PubMed publication types and MeSH headings.
By theme
Stem Cell Delivery and Immunity (8)
- Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Fuel Immunometabolic Reprogramming of Type 2 Conventional Dendritic Cells to Alleviate Systemic Sclerosis. Arthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.) · 5 Oct 2026 PMID 42834011
- Gelatin Methacrylate as a Mesenchymal Stem Cell Delivery Vehicle: Experimental and Semi-Quantitative Evaluation Under Metabolic Stress. Macromolecular bioscience · 2 Sept 2026 PMID 42683595
- Long-Term Survival, Illness Severity, and Time-to-Treatment Analysis in Dogs with Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia Following Intravenous Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy: A Multicohort Follow-Up Study. Stem cells and development · 17 Jul 2026 PMID 42466752
- Aptamer-functionalized stiff hydrogel for enhanced BMSC enrichment and osteogenesis. PloS one · 16 Jul 2026 PMID 42461853
- A one-step surface engineering strategy based on PEG-EGCG to improve systemic delivery and survival of transplanted mesenchymal stromal cells. Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society · 2 Jul 2026 PMID 42392407
- An injectable nanoreinforced hydrogel for combined GDNF-loaded nanoparticles and mesenchymal stem cell therapy in Parkinson's disease. European journal of pharmaceutical sciences : official journal of the European Federation for Pharmaceutical Sciences · 1 Jul 2026 PMID 42386013
- A microgel bone marrow model of mesenchymal stromal cell paracrine signaling supporting hematopoietic stem cell retention. Acta biomaterialia · 5 Jun 2026 PMID 42248284
- A Straw-Reinforced-Clay-Inspired Composite Hydrogel Promotes Diabetic Bone Regeneration via Driving the Immune-Osteogenic Cascade to Remodel Mitochondrial Homeostasis. ACS nano · 8 May 2026 PMID 42101831
Regenerative Cell Therapies (6)
- Dual-Reporter Gene-Based Multimodal Imaging for Tracking Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Diabetic Skin Wound Repair. Stem cell reviews and reports · 12 Aug 2026 PMID 42584542
- Responders vs. non-responders to mesenchymal stromal cells in knee osteoarthritis: Mechanistic correlates of donor cell and patient features. Stem cell reports · 6 Aug 2026 PMID 42561945
- Helping Underdeveloped Lungs with Cells (HULC-2): mesenchymal stromal cells in extreme preterm infants at risk of developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia - a study protocol of a phase 2 multicentre double blind randomised controlled trial in Canada. BMJ open · 6 Jul 2026 PMID 42409407
- Bioprinted dECM particles-laden microgels enhance the mesenchymal stromal cell paracrine effect for myocardial infarction treatment. Acta biomaterialia · 6 Jun 2026 PMID 42250666
- Umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells for respiratory complications of COVID-19 infection (ProTrans): phase II randomized clinical trial. Cytotherapy · 14 May 2026 PMID 42134096
- Mesenchymal stem cells and their exosomes from umbilical cord and adipose tissue in the prevention of postoperative intra-abdominal adhesions: A rat model study. The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology · 17 Apr 2026 PMID 41997426
Stem Cell Neural Repair (4)
- Platelet-rich plasma-primed bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes inhibit neuronal apoptosis and autophagy, and promote nerve regeneration via the miR-29a-3p/PTEN/PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis after spinal cord injury. Journal of molecular histology · 21 May 2026 PMID 42165939
- Heat shock preconditioning potentiates the therapeutic efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells for traumatic brain injury. Biochemical and biophysical research communications · 20 May 2026 PMID 42161062
- A study on 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging assessment of the anti-aging efficacy of BMMSCs in the macaque brain. Stem cells translational medicine · 18 May 2026 PMID 42145043
- A commentary on the need for minimum information for studies evaluating biologics in plastic surgery. Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery : JPRAS · 29 Apr 2026 PMID 42054980
Others — Multisystem Stem Cell Therapy (13)
- ABCB5⁺ mesenchymal stem cells enable high-ratio cellular augmentation of bone grafts without loss of osteogenic function. European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society · 3 Sept 2026 PMID 42690432
- Remodeling-phase wound-derived protein factors enhance mesenchymal stem cell function and improve diabetic wound healing. Molecular biology reports · 3 Sept 2026 PMID 42690285
- High-intensity interval training versus mesenchymal stem cells in amyloid-β-induced Alzheimer's disease: comparative effects on cognitive function,hippocampal inflammation, oxidative balance, and BDNF. Biochemical and biophysical research communications · 27 Aug 2026 PMID 42659862
- Intraventricular administration of SHED-derived mesenchymal stem cells in neonatal post- infectious hydrocephalus: a first-in-human case report. Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery · 26 Jun 2026 PMID 42362959
- Systemic mesenchymal stem cell therapy for reduction of inflammatory burden in a patient with juvenile-onset rheumatoid arthritis and dialysis-dependent renal failure. Croatian medical journal · 13 Jun 2026 PMID 42286909
- TLR9 agonists alleviate diabetic condition by promoting the maturation of differentiated bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in rats. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences · 22 May 2026 PMID 42170982
- Hypoxia-preconditioned bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells alleviate acute liver failure in association with the VEGF/c-Met pathway. Molecular biology reports · 21 May 2026 PMID 42165955
- Melatonin improves osteogenic differentiation in a high-glucose environment by activating NRF2 to promote autophagy through the regulation of cross-talk between macrophages and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Inflammation research : official journal of the European Histamine Research Society ... [et al.] · 7 May 2026 PMID 42096091
- Intrathecal Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial (SMART-MS). Neurology · 4 May 2026 PMID 42081777
- Development of ECM-inspired supramolecular cryogels with innate mineralization and compression-resistance for 3D culture of mini-bone trabeculae tissue analogs. Biofabrication · 2 May 2026 PMID 42068993
- Therapeutic Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Transplantation in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Cross-Talk Between Ovary and Liver. The journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research · 30 Apr 2026 PMID 42057606
- Robust neurogenesis in chronic stroke monkeys following mesenchymal stem cell transplantation plus intermittent theta-burst stimulation. Signal transduction and targeted therapy · 24 Apr 2026 PMID 42031725
- Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate Improves the Early Osseous Integration of Fresh Osteochondral Allografts in the Knee: A Randomized Controlled Trial. The American journal of sports medicine · 17 Apr 2026 PMID 41992571
By study type
Clinical trials (4)
- Helping Underdeveloped Lungs with Cells (HULC-2): mesenchymal stromal cells in extreme preterm infants at risk of developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia - a study protocol of a phase 2 multicentre double blind randomised controlled trial in Canada. BMJ open · 6 Jul 2026 PMID 42409407
- Umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells for respiratory complications of COVID-19 infection (ProTrans): phase II randomized clinical trial. Cytotherapy · 14 May 2026 PMID 42134096
- Intrathecal Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial (SMART-MS). Neurology · 4 May 2026 PMID 42081777
- Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate Improves the Early Osseous Integration of Fresh Osteochondral Allografts in the Knee: A Randomized Controlled Trial. The American journal of sports medicine · 17 Apr 2026 PMID 41992571
Observational studies and case reports (3)
- Long-Term Survival, Illness Severity, and Time-to-Treatment Analysis in Dogs with Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia Following Intravenous Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy: A Multicohort Follow-Up Study. Stem cells and development · 17 Jul 2026 PMID 42466752
- Intraventricular administration of SHED-derived mesenchymal stem cells in neonatal post- infectious hydrocephalus: a first-in-human case report. Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery · 26 Jun 2026 PMID 42362959
- Systemic mesenchymal stem cell therapy for reduction of inflammatory burden in a patient with juvenile-onset rheumatoid arthritis and dialysis-dependent renal failure. Croatian medical journal · 13 Jun 2026 PMID 42286909
Human data, design not indexed (2)
- Responders vs. non-responders to mesenchymal stromal cells in knee osteoarthritis: Mechanistic correlates of donor cell and patient features. Stem cell reports · 6 Aug 2026 PMID 42561945
- A commentary on the need for minimum information for studies evaluating biologics in plastic surgery. Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery : JPRAS · 29 Apr 2026 PMID 42054980
Preclinical: animal, cell and lab studies (21)
- ABCB5⁺ mesenchymal stem cells enable high-ratio cellular augmentation of bone grafts without loss of osteogenic function. European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society · 3 Sept 2026 PMID 42690432
- Remodeling-phase wound-derived protein factors enhance mesenchymal stem cell function and improve diabetic wound healing. Molecular biology reports · 3 Sept 2026 PMID 42690285
- Gelatin Methacrylate as a Mesenchymal Stem Cell Delivery Vehicle: Experimental and Semi-Quantitative Evaluation Under Metabolic Stress. Macromolecular bioscience · 2 Sept 2026 PMID 42683595
- High-intensity interval training versus mesenchymal stem cells in amyloid-β-induced Alzheimer's disease: comparative effects on cognitive function,hippocampal inflammation, oxidative balance, and BDNF. Biochemical and biophysical research communications · 27 Aug 2026 PMID 42659862
- Dual-Reporter Gene-Based Multimodal Imaging for Tracking Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Diabetic Skin Wound Repair. Stem cell reviews and reports · 12 Aug 2026 PMID 42584542
- Aptamer-functionalized stiff hydrogel for enhanced BMSC enrichment and osteogenesis. PloS one · 16 Jul 2026 PMID 42461853
- A one-step surface engineering strategy based on PEG-EGCG to improve systemic delivery and survival of transplanted mesenchymal stromal cells. Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society · 2 Jul 2026 PMID 42392407
- An injectable nanoreinforced hydrogel for combined GDNF-loaded nanoparticles and mesenchymal stem cell therapy in Parkinson's disease. European journal of pharmaceutical sciences : official journal of the European Federation for Pharmaceutical Sciences · 1 Jul 2026 PMID 42386013
- Bioprinted dECM particles-laden microgels enhance the mesenchymal stromal cell paracrine effect for myocardial infarction treatment. Acta biomaterialia · 6 Jun 2026 PMID 42250666
- A microgel bone marrow model of mesenchymal stromal cell paracrine signaling supporting hematopoietic stem cell retention. Acta biomaterialia · 5 Jun 2026 PMID 42248284
- TLR9 agonists alleviate diabetic condition by promoting the maturation of differentiated bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in rats. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences · 22 May 2026 PMID 42170982
- Hypoxia-preconditioned bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells alleviate acute liver failure in association with the VEGF/c-Met pathway. Molecular biology reports · 21 May 2026 PMID 42165955
- Platelet-rich plasma-primed bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes inhibit neuronal apoptosis and autophagy, and promote nerve regeneration via the miR-29a-3p/PTEN/PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis after spinal cord injury. Journal of molecular histology · 21 May 2026 PMID 42165939
- Heat shock preconditioning potentiates the therapeutic efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells for traumatic brain injury. Biochemical and biophysical research communications · 20 May 2026 PMID 42161062
- A study on 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging assessment of the anti-aging efficacy of BMMSCs in the macaque brain. Stem cells translational medicine · 18 May 2026 PMID 42145043
- A Straw-Reinforced-Clay-Inspired Composite Hydrogel Promotes Diabetic Bone Regeneration via Driving the Immune-Osteogenic Cascade to Remodel Mitochondrial Homeostasis. ACS nano · 8 May 2026 PMID 42101831
- Melatonin improves osteogenic differentiation in a high-glucose environment by activating NRF2 to promote autophagy through the regulation of cross-talk between macrophages and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Inflammation research : official journal of the European Histamine Research Society ... [et al.] · 7 May 2026 PMID 42096091
- Development of ECM-inspired supramolecular cryogels with innate mineralization and compression-resistance for 3D culture of mini-bone trabeculae tissue analogs. Biofabrication · 2 May 2026 PMID 42068993
- Therapeutic Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Transplantation in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Cross-Talk Between Ovary and Liver. The journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research · 30 Apr 2026 PMID 42057606
- Robust neurogenesis in chronic stroke monkeys following mesenchymal stem cell transplantation plus intermittent theta-burst stimulation. Signal transduction and targeted therapy · 24 Apr 2026 PMID 42031725
- Mesenchymal stem cells and their exosomes from umbilical cord and adipose tissue in the prevention of postoperative intra-abdominal adhesions: A rat model study. The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology · 17 Apr 2026 PMID 41997426
Unclassified: not yet indexed with MeSH (1)
- Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Fuel Immunometabolic Reprogramming of Type 2 Conventional Dendritic Cells to Alleviate Systemic Sclerosis. Arthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.) · 5 Oct 2026 PMID 42834011
Written from 31 PubMed abstracts, each one listed by PMID above. Published: 2026-07-02. Last written: 2026-09-05 by GPT. Reviewed by a human editor on 2026-07-24. Drafted by language models from published abstracts; not medical advice.