Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2013, Vol. 17 ›› Issue (6): 1135-1140.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2013.06.031

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Homing mechanism of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells

Gu Wei2, Gu Jian1   

  1. 1 Clinical Medical College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225001, Jiangsu Province, China
    2 Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou 221000, Jiangsu Province, China
  • Received:2012-07-15 Revised:2012-08-21 Online:2013-02-05 Published:2013-02-05
  • Contact: Gu Jian, Professor, Chief physician, Clinical Medical College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225001, Jiangsu Province, China maolujiu918@yahoo.com.cn
  • About author:Gu Wei★, Master, Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou 221000, Jiangsu Province, China zsgkgw666@126.com

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells have been used as ideal seed cells for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine because of the advantages of easy in harvest, non-pollution, easy amplification, no ethical issues and multi-directional differentiation potential.
OBJECTIVE: To review the homing mechanism of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells.
METHODS: The CNKI database, Wanfang database and PubMed database were searched by computer with key words “human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells, homing mechanism or home” both in English and Chinese for the articles related to umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells, homing mechanism and clinical applications. All articles were recently published or published in the authorized journals. A total of 31 articles were included.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells have the advantages of immune regulation and multi-directional differentiation, which provide a new treatment method of many diseases, while the characteristic of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells homing to ischemic or inflammatory tissue is the key to safe and effective clinical application. Understanding the homing mechanism of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells and making an efficient homing of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells are important for cell therapy.

Key words: stem cells, stem cell review, umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells, homing characteristics, homing mechanism, stem cell surface markers, hepatocyte growth factors, chemokines, integrin, protease, immunomodulation, tissue engineering

CLC Number: