Table 3.

Recent recommendations for investigation and use of mesenchymal stromal (stem) cells

(1) The general population of mesenchymal stromal (stem) cells (MSCs) should continue to be identified as mesenchymal stromal cells, although this is not an ideal term.

(2) The term ‘‘mesenchymal stem cell’’ should be used to specifically describe a cell with documented self-renewal and differentiation characteristics.

(3) MSCs should be categorized as cultured or primary. This is an important distinction (see below) because the characteristics are likely to be different and should avoid confusion when comparisons are made between studies.

(4) The source of MSCs should be specified (e.g., adipose, bone marrow, cord blood, etc.); differences in cell characteristics are likely to be encountered.

(5) Species should be identified. This information is not always explicitly stated in the text of publications (except in the Methods section) and has led to confusion in the past.

(6) Minimum criteria for a surface marker profile need to be revisited and are likely to vary among species.

(7) The need to document the in vitro differentiation potential of the cells should be reexamined.

(8) The in vitro clonogenic capacity of MSCs should be enumerated.

(9) The reproducible representation of transcriptome, proteome, and secretome of MSCs should be evaluated, and the major factors influencing the signatures should be identified and specified.

(10) Consideration should be given to characterizing the cells according to tissue specificity (e.g., the differentiation potential of human umbilical cord perivascular cells is more extensive than for bone marrow MSCs).

Adapted by permission from Reference 197.