title: Modulatory effects of mesenchymal stem cells on leucocytes and leukemic cells: A double-edged sword?
abstract: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have drawn much attention amongst stem cell researchers in the past few decades. The ability of the MSC to differentiate into cells of mesodermal and non-mesodermal origins has made them an attractive approach for cell-based therapy and regenerative medicine. The MSCs have immunosuppressive activities that may have considerable therapeutic values in autoimmune diseases. However, despite the many beneficial effects reported, there is a growing body of evidence, which suggests that MSCs could be a culprit of enhanced tumour growth, metastasis and drug resistance in leukaemia, via some modulatory effects. Many controversies regarding the interactions between MSCs and leukaemia still exist. Furthermore, the role of MSCs in leukemogenesis and its progression remain largely unknown. Hence it is important to understand how the MSCs modulate leukaemia before these cells could be safely used in the treatment of leukaemia patients.
authors.affiliation: Rockhampton Base Hospital, Central Queensland, Australia; Division of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, International Medical University, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Jun How
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Low
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, International Medical University, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Premdass
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ramdas
authors.affiliation: Division of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, International Medical University, Malaysia. Electronic address: ammu_radhakrishnan@imu.edu.my.
authors.forename: Ammu Kutty
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Radhakrishnan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation; D007938:Leukemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*
keywords: Immunomodulatory; Leukaemia; Mesenchymal stem cells