title: Characteristics, applications and prospects of mesenchymal stem cells in cell therapy.
abstract: Recent advances in the field of cell therapy and regenerative medicine describe mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as potential biological products due to their ability to self-renew and differentiate. MSCs are multipotent adult cells with immunomodulatory and regenerative properties, and, given their therapeutic potential, they are being widely studied in order to evaluate their viability, safety and efficacy. In this review, we describe the main characteristics and cellular sources of MSCs, in addition to providing an overview of their properties and current clinical applications, as well offering updated information on the regulatory aspects that define them as somatic cell therapy products. Cell therapy based on MSCs is offered nowadays as a pharmacological alternative, although there are still challenges to be addressed in this regard.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Instituto Malagueño de Biomedicina (IBIMA), Málaga, España; BIONAND, Centro Andaluz de Nanomedicina y Biotecnología (Junta de Andalucía, Universidad de Málaga), Málaga, España.
authors.forename: Juan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Guadix
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Genética, Antropología Física y Fisiología Animal, Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad del País Vasco-Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Leioa, España; Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience Zamudio, España; IKERBASQUE, Fundación Vasca para la Ciencia, Bilbao, España.
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Zugaza
authors.affiliation: Área de Terapias Avanzadas, Bioibérica S.A., Barcelona, España. Electronic address: pgalvez@bioiberica.com.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gálvez-Martín
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Cell therapy; Células madre mesenquimales; Medicina regenerativa; Mesenchymal stem cells; Regenerative medicine; Terapia celular