title: Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells in drug therapy: New perspective.
abstract: Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSC) have emerged as a class of cells suitable for cellular delivery of nanoparticles, drugs and micro-RNA cargo for targeted treatments such as tumor and other protective mechanisms. The special properties of MSC underscore the current use for various clinical applications. Examples of applications include but are not limited to regenerative medicine, immune disorders and anti-cancer therapies. In recent years, there has been intense research in modifying MSC to achieve targeted and efficient clinical outcomes. This review discusses effects of MSC in an inflammatory microenvironment and then explains how these properties could be important to the overall application of MSC in cell therapy. The article also advises caution in the application of these cells because of their role in tumorigenesis. The review stresses the use of MSC as vehicles for drug delivery and discusses the accompanying challenges, based on the influence of the microenvironment on MSC.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Hematology/Oncology, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Lauren S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Sherman
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Hematology/Oncology, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Maran
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shaker
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mariotti
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Hematology/Oncology, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey, USA. Electronic address: rameshwa@njms.rutgers.edu.
authors.forename: Pranela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rameshwar
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology*; D044968:Regenerative Medicine / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents