Int. J. Dev. Biol. 64: 465 - 469 (2020)

https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.200242jc

Vol 64, Issue 10-11-12

Reciprocal interactions between mesenchymal stem cells and macrophages

Review | Published: 14 December 2020

Małgorzata Kloc*^,1,2,3, Ahmed Uosef^1,2, Monika Leśniak⁴, Jacek Z. Kubiak^4,5 and Rafik M. Ghobrial^1,2

¹Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA ²Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA, ³University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Genetics, Houston, Texas, USA, ⁴Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (WIHE), Warsaw, Poland and ⁵UnivRennes, UMR 6290, CNRS, Institute of Genetics and Development of Rennes (IGDR), Cell Cycle Group, Faculty of Medicine, Rennes, France

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are used as therapeutic agents for the treatment of a wide spectrum of diseases, as well as for the regeneration and healing of burns and wounds. MSCs have an immunomodulatory effect and influence the phenotype and functions of immune cells, including macrophages, which in turn prime and license the MSCs. We discuss the new findings on the feedback loop between MSCs and macrophages and its consequences on the outcome of MSC therapies.

Keywords

mesenchymal stem cell, MSC, macrophage, MSC therapy, immunomodulation