Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2024, Vol. 28 ›› Issue (31): 5055-5062.doi: 10.12307/2024.706

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Co-culture technology of mesenchymal stem cells and macrophages

Yang Xiaoqian1, 2, 3, 4, Song Aimei1, 2, 3, 4, Song Hui1, 2, 3, 4   

  1. 1School of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China; 2Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China; 3Shandong Provincial Laboratory of Oral Biomaterials and Tissue Regeneration Engineering, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China; 4Shandong Provincial Clinical Medical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China
  • Received:2023-08-14 Accepted:2023-10-08 Online:2024-11-08 Published:2024-01-23
  • Contact: Song Aimei, MD, Chief physician, School of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China; Shandong Provincial Laboratory of Oral Biomaterials and Tissue Regeneration Engineering, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China; Shandong Provincial Clinical Medical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China Song Hui, School of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China; Shandong Provincial Laboratory of Oral Biomaterials and Tissue Regeneration Engineering, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China; Shandong Provincial Clinical Medical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China
  • About author:Yang Xiaoqian, Master candidate, School of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China; Shandong Provincial Laboratory of Oral Biomaterials and Tissue Regeneration Engineering, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China; Shandong Provincial Clinical Medical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China
  • Supported by:
    Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation, No. ZR2020MH184 (to SAM)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: In the co-culture environment of mesenchymal stem cells and macrophages, mesenchymal stem cells can promote the polarization of macrophages into anti-inflammatory macrophages to reduce inflammation, and macrophages can promote the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. The co-culture of both plays an important role in regulating the immune system and promoting tissue regeneration. 
OBJECTIVE: To summarize the methods, influencing factors and possible mechanisms of co-culture between mesenchymal stem cells and macrophages, and to provide theoretical basis and experimental methods for the application of co-culture of mesenchymal stem cells and macrophages in tissue engineering. 
METHODS: The first author searched the relevant articles published from January 1970 to September 2023 in PubMed and CNK by computer from January to September 2023. The Chinese and English key words were “mesenchymal stem cells, macrophages, co-culture”. Finally, 63 articles were included and analyzed. 
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) In vitro co-culture of mesenchymal stem cells and macrophages can be divided into direct contact co-culture and indirect contact co-culture according to the model, and two-dimensional cell co-culture and three-dimensional cell co-culture according to the dimension. (2) The co-culture of mesenchymal stem cells and macrophages can promote the polarization of macrophages towards M2 type and enhance the osteogenic effect of mesenchymal stem cells. (3) In the co-culture model, the methods of co-culture, the proportion and time of co-culture, the phenotype of macrophages, and the cell source and conditions all affected the immune regulation of macrophages and the osteogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells. (4) Cell interaction in co-culture may regulate the immune function of macrophages, proliferation, migration and osteogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells through cell-secreted soluble factors, extracellular vesicles, cell-cell contact, and metabolic pathways. (5) Mesenchymal stem cells and macrophages can enhance cardiac function after acute myocardial infarction, promote epithelial wound healing, reduce lung inflammation, improve renal function, and accelerate bone repair. (6) There are still some problems in co-culture of mesenchymal stem cells and macrophages, such as the selection of co-culture conditions, the maintenance of good cell state and interaction of co-cultured cells. (7) The co-culture of mesenchymal stem cells and macrophages can improve the local inflammatory microenvironment and promote tissue regeneration and repair, so it will have a broad application prospect in tissue engineering.

Key words: mesenchymal stem cell, macrophage, cell co-culture, direct contact, paracrine, three-dimensional co-culture system, tissue regeneration, tissue engineering

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