title: Perspectives on the use of mesenchymal stem cells in vascularized composite allotransplantation.
abstract: Reconstructive transplantation has emerged as clinical reality over the past decade. Long-term graft acceptance has been feasible in extremity and facial vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) under standard immunosuppression. Minimizing overall burden of lifelong immunosuppression is key to wider application of these non-life saving grafts. Allograft tolerance is the holy grail of many cell-based immunomodulatory strategies. Recent protocols using mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow and adipose tissue offer promise and potential in VCA. This article provides an overview of the experimental basis, the scientific background and clinical applications of stem cell-based therapies in the field of reconstructive allotransplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center , Pittsburgh, PA , USA ; Division of Plastic and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Zurich , Zurich , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Plock
authors.forename: Jonas T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Schnider
authors.forename: Mario G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Solari
authors.forename: Xin Xiao
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Vijay S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Gorantla
keywords: adipose stem cells; cell-based therapy; composite tissue allotransplantation; immunomodulation; tolerance