Abstract

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells, also known as mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), can be isolated from bone marrow or other tissues, including fat, muscle and umbilical cord. It has been shown that MSC behave in vitro as stem cells: they self-renew and are able to differentiate into mature cells typical of several mesenchymal tissues. Moreover, the differentiation toward non-mesenchymal cell lineages (e.g. neurons) has been reported as well. The clinical relevance of these cells is mainly related to their ability to spontaneously migrate to the site of inflammation/damage, to their safety profile thanks to their low immunogenicity and to their immunomodulation capacities. To date, MSCs isolated from the post-natal bone marrow have represented the most extensively studied population of adult MSCs, in view of their possible use in various therapeutical applications. However, the bone marrow-derived MSCs exhibit a series of limitations, mainly related to their problematic isolation, culturing and use. In recent years, umbilical cord (UC) matrix (i.e. Wharton’s jelly, WJ) stromal cells have therefore emerged as a more suitable alternative source of MSCs, thanks to their primitive nature and the easy isolation without relevant ethical concerns. This review seeks to provide an overview of the main biological properties of WJ-derived MSCs. Moreover, the potential application of these cells for the treatment of some known dysfunctions in the central and peripheral nervous system will also be discussed.

Introduction

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) from bone marrow have initially gained much attention by hematologists involved in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. However, it soon became clear that MSCs have biological properties making them suitable for use in regenerative medicine and immunomodulation. Moreover, MSCs obtained from other sources could offer theoretical advantages over bone marrow derived ones. In particular, MSC derived from the Wharton’s jelly of the umbilical cord (WJMSCs) exhibit unique features (e.g. primitive nature, multilineage potential immunomodulatory ability, ease of isolation, extensive proliferation) that may make them more valuable therapeutic tools for the treatment of various diseases or tissue damage. This review will first attempt to provide a brief summary of the main biological properties of WJMSCs, and then discuss their efficacy to promote anatomical and functional recovery upon transplantation in rodent models of central and peripheral nerve dysfunction.