We at Novus Biologicals have a range of mesenchymal stem cell markers on our antibody database. These multipotent cells have generated great excitement since their therapeutic use was discussed at the UK’s first Mesenchymal Stem Cell Meeting, in 2006. Since then, mesenchymal stem cell research, using antibodies as markers has gone into overdrive. Also known as marrow stromal cells, MSCs are derived from non-embryonic sources, the most prevalent being bone marrow. The periosteum, fat and skin are other sources. In vitro, MSC antibody markers have been used to research both stem cell behaviour and the cellular mechanisms of relevant diseases. MSCs can be induced to differentiate into a wide variety of cell types including osteoblasts, myocytes and pancreatic islet cells. As well as being used to generate a range of human tissues in vivo, such as cartilage and bone, MSCs have shown the ability to absorb new genetic material, making them ideal for in vivo regeneration therapies. Now, promising results from human clinical trials suggest mesenchymal stem cells could be a routine therapy for cardiac patients in as little as 5 years. In 2009, clinical human heart trial results offered the most conclusive proof yet that mesenchymal stem cells may repair, rather than just manage, heart disease. In the study, patients who had recently suffered a heart attack were injected with MSCs from bone marrow donors. Results suggested that the cells not only reduced scar tissue, they also increased the pumping strength and even showed growth of new heart muscle. The trial has now passed on to Phase ll study in hospitals across the US. Although stem cell markers in antibody catalogues like ours are derived from various sources, the general public automatically associate the term with embryonic tissue. MSCs are a far less controversial area, and hopefully will become the preferred therapy for a wide range of diseases in the future.
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