Cell therapy of primary myopathies
Sampaolesi, M.; Biressi, S.; Tonlorenzi, R.; Innocenzi, A.; Draghici, E.; Cusella de Angelis, M.G.; Cossu, G.
Archives Italiennes de Biologie 143(3-4): 235-242
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9829 PMID: 16097501 Document Number: 591199
Mesoangioblasts are multipotent progenitors of mesodermal tissues. In vitro mesoangioblasts differentiate into many mesoderm cell types, such as smooth, cardiac and striated muscle, bone and endothelium. After transplantation mesoangioblasts colonize mostly mesoderm tissues and differentiate into many cell types of the mesoderm. When delivered through the arterial circulation, mesoangioblasts significantly restore skeletal muscle structure and function in a mouse model of muscular dystrophy. Their ability to extensively self-renew in vitro, while retaining multipotency, qualifies mesoangioblasts as a novel class of stem cells. Phenotype, properties and possible origin of mesoangioblasts are addressed in the first part of this paper. In the second part we will focus on the cell therapy approach for the treatment of Muscular Dystrophy and we will describe why mesangioblasts appear to be promising candidates for this strategy.