Gianandrea Pasquinelli

By Valente Sabrina and Pasquinelli Gianandrea

The human arterial wall contains progenitors and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) acting as a postnatal reservoir of stem cells during lifetime. They are nestled in distinct arterial zones close to blood support, that is, the intima and the media-adventitia vasa vasorum plexus, representing vascular stem cell niches. In previous studies, MSCs were successfully isolated from fresh and cadaveric human large- and middle-sized arteries; these cells have a mesenchymal phenotype, self-renewal ability, and tri-lineage plasticity with high endothelial and smooth muscle cell differentiation potential. Here we present an overview of human MSCs derived from the vascular wall (hVW-MSCs) of different anatomical sites focusing on their phenotypic expression, multilineage potency, and stemness properties based on the localization in the arterial tree. We describe the isolation protocols as well as immunophenotyping, functional, and ultrastructure methods used to investigate these cell properties. hVW-MSCs from distinct portions of the vascular tree exhibit distinct phenotypic expression, multilineage potency, and stemness properties. This observation may contribute to explain the regional differences seen in vascular disease; moreover the different attitudes that hVW-MSCs exhibit in vascular differentiation should be taken in consideration whenever cell therapy, regenerative medicine, and tissue engineering strategies are attempted to replace tissues and organs.

Part of the book: Mesenchymal Stem Cells

By Carmen Ciavarella and Gianandrea Pasquinelli

The well-known reparative properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) make them an attractive source for cell-based therapy. In vitro and in vivo studies support an anti-inflammatory role of MSCs by directly targeting immune cells or via the secretion of immunomodulatory factors. MSCs have been isolated from several human normal tissues, even from pathological biopsies and blood samples; in these cases, MSCs displayed peculiar characteristics, suggesting a phenotype transition into a pathological state. Indeed, MSCs derived from inflamed tissues acquired a pro-inflammatory behaviour. In this view, MSCs may be crucial players of many pathways involved in human diseases, especially during the inflammatory cascade. The present chapter will minutely describe the basic biology of human MSCs derived from normal and pathological arteries, focusing on their dual nature as cellular switchers of the inflammatory setting. We will also discuss the emerging role of miRNAs in regulating MSC functions and their potential use as alternative strategies to manipulate MSC efficacy.

Part of the book: Update on Mesenchymal and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells