Functional Enhancement Strategies for Immunomodulation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Their Therapeutic Application

The document from 2020 reviews strategies to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for immunomodulation and their application in treating various diseases. It addresses challenges such as poor engraftment, low survival rates, and donor-dependent variation in clinical trials. Strategies discussed include preconditioning MSCs with cytokines, growth factors, and hypoxia; genetic manipulation using techniques like CRISPR/Cas9; and co-administration with supportive materials and drugs. Preconditioning with pro-inflammatory cytokines like IFN-y and TNF-a is noted to improve MSCs' immunomodulatory functions. The document also explores the use of immune receptor agonists, 3D culture methods, and bio-engineering with scaffolds and bioactive reagents to enhance MSC properties. It emphasizes the importance of disease-specific screening criteria for MSC selection and the potential of customized clinical strategies that consider disease-specific priming and patient immune status. While the document highlights the promise of MSCs in treating various conditions, it also acknowledges the need for further research to optimize these strategies for maximum therapeutic outcomes. The exact number of participants in the referenced studies is not provided.