title: Foreskin as a source of immunotherapeutic mesenchymal stromal cells.
abstract: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have well-characterized properties and thus represent an attractive cell population for use in several therapeutic applications. Due to the limitations and inconveniences associated with classical sources of MSCs, the identification and characterization of alternative sources are required for safe and efficient cell therapy. The skin tissue is currently referred to as a reservoir of cells with therapeutically relevant functions. Historically considered biological waste, foreskin (FSK) is increasingly used to provide immunotherapeutic MSCs for medicinal products. This review discusses for the first time the nature and profile of MSCs within the foreskin tissue and, in particular, their immunobiology. A better immunological characterization and understanding of foreskin-derived cells will be critical for improving MSC-based cellular strategies for immunotherapeutic applications.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Cell Therapy, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Campus Erasme, Bâtiment de Transfusion (Level +1), Route de Lennik n° 808, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Najar
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Cell Therapy, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Campus Erasme, Bâtiment de Transfusion (Level +1), Route de Lennik n° 808, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lagneaux
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D052816:Foreskin / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: cell therapy; foreskin; immunobiology; mesenchymal stromal cells