Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
growth factor (TGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF), hepatocyte
growth factor (HGF), Wnt, and others have been shown to regulate
the proliferative potential of MSCs. 7 , 31 - 42 MSC proliferation can be
further potentiated by acombinationof growthfactors orofgrowth
factors with glucocorticoids such as dexamethasone. 43 - 46 Although
the mechanisms that govern enhanced proliferation of MSCs in
response to growth factors and glucocorticoids are still largely
unknown,arecent studyhasshownthatSrckinasemaybeinvolved
intheenhancedproliferationofMSCs. 43 Recently,alternativeculture
methods that exclude animal-derived culture constituents, such as
fetalbovineserum(FBS),havealsobeenproposed.Inthesesystems,
umbilical cord blood and platelet lysates are substituted for FBS for
the expansion ofMSCs. 1 , 47
Collectively, plasticity, ease of isolation, immunomodulatory
potential, and ready availability make MSCs attractive for tissue
engineering therapy applications. 7 However, an effective technique
for the ex vivo expansion of MSCs that maintains their multilineage
differentiation potential is needed.
41.2 The Use of Growth Factors and Glucocorticoids for
the Propagation of Adult MSCs
41.2.1 Growth Factors
The therapeutic application of MSCs is relatively restricted by a low
yield of cells from adult tissues. 48 , 49 In order to obtain a su cient
number of MSCs for tissue engineering therapies, culture condi-
tions need to be thoroughly considered. Serum in a growth medium
contains a wide variety of nutrients, hormones, growth factors,
vitamins, and microelements that affect the growth and stem cell
potential of MSCs. 50 - 52 Of these, growth factors have the greatest
potentialtoinfluencethecellularcharacteristicsofMSCs.Therefore,
an understanding of the effects exerted by various growth factors
andthemolecularmechanismsthatunderlietheproliferativepoten-
tial of MSCs may promote the expansion of their therapeutic appli-
cations.
 
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