The concept of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is well-established in the stem cell research and application community, with "MSCs" commonly used as an abbreviation. However, there is ongoing debate regarding whether this term refers to mesenchymal stem cells, mesenchymal stromal cells, or multipotent stem cells. These terms all describe a type of cell first identified in the 1950s. The initial report of bone formation through bone marrow transplantation was documented in 19561. Subsequent research by Friedenstein et al. (1966) identified osteogenesis from bone marrow during transplantation procedures2. Notably, in 1980, it was demonstrated that a suspension of marrow cells or fibroblasts derived from bone marrow could differentiate into bone and cartilage in vivo3. The concept of MSCs was further developed in a 1991 paper by Dr. Arnold Caplan, who described the isolation of a specific type of stem cell found in bone marrow4.
In 1995, Drs. Wakitani and Saito, conducting research in Dr. Caplan's laboratory, reported the inducible differentiation of these cells into muscle cells and adipocytes5, 6. Following this, Dr. Johnstone (1998) demonstrated that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) could differentiate into chondrocytes7. Additionally, Dr. Pittenger and colleagues (1999) provided evidence for the differentiation of MSCs into osteocytes, chondrocytes, and adipocytes8. In subsequent years, cells analogous to bone marrow-derived MSCs were successfully identified and isolated from diverse tissues such as adipose tissue9, umbilical cord blood10, 11, umbilical cord12, placenta13, dental pulp14, skin15, and hair follicles16. In 2006, the International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) established minimal criteria for defining MSCs, which included (1) adherence to plastic culture surfaces while exhibiting a fibroblast-like morphology, (2) the expression of surface markers CD105, CD73, and CD90, while lacking CD14, CD34, CD45, and HLA-DR, and (3) the capability to differentiate in vitro into osteoblasts, chondroblasts, and adipocytes17. Generally, these criteria reflect the two pivotal characteristics of stem cells: their ability to self-renew and differentiate. However, this standard has not yet definitively proven that the cells have the self-renewal capability, which remains one of the essential characteristics of stem cells.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were initially employed for the treatment of bone and cartilage diseases18, 19, 20, 21. Subsequently, the application of MSCs expanded to include a variety of conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)22, 23, graft-versus-host disease24, Crohn's disease25, spinal cord injury26, heart failure27, and frailty28. Numerous studies have demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of MSC transplantation, leading to the approval of specific treatments or drugs, such as Prochymal29, Temcell HS30, and Cartistem31. However, the therapeutic mechanism of MSCs appears to be independent of their stemness or differentiation capabilities. As a result, many scientists attribute the therapeutic effects of MSCs to alternative processes, particularly the secretion of factors such as secretomes and exosomes32, 33, 34. The release of components like growth factors, cytokines, and exosomes is deemed crucial for their therapeutic impact, contrasting with hematopoietic stem cells, whose efficacy results from differentiation into blood cells. Some studies also suggest that cell-to-cell interactions involving surface proteins significantly contribute to the therapeutic effectiveness of MSCs34, 35, 36.
I have reviewed studies that provide evidence of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation into cells with therapeutic potential, particularly non-mesenchymal cells such as lung cells, nerve cells, and beta cells; however, such investigations are exceedingly rare. Furthermore, in treating diseases associated with substantial tissue damage, such as bone defects and challenging regeneration scenarios, it appears more advantageous to utilize cell mixtures derived from bone marrow rather than bone marrow-derived MSCs37. The issues concerning the definitions and mechanisms of MSCs in therapeutic applications have generated substantial debate and raised critical questions. The divergence in therapeutic mechanisms from the traditional understanding of stem cells has led to the proposal of an alternative term by the originator of the concept: "medicinal signaling cell" (MSC)38. Subsequently, Douglas Sipp and colleagues advocated for clinics to refrain from using the term "mesenchymal stem cell" in marketing stem cell and regenerative medicine therapies39. Despite these recommendations, the notion of MSCs as mesenchymal stem cells is deeply entrenched in the scientific community and remains widespread in scientific publications.
Drawing from research experience, I propose redefining mesenchymal stem cells as "master signaling cells" (MSCs). This conceptualization implies that master signaling cells are fundamental across all tissues, including the blood. They are crucial for signaling tissue regeneration following damage, as they receive activation signals from inflammatory factors released by immune cells and subsequently transmit signals to facilitate regeneration. While I do not expect an immediate shift to the term "master signaling cell" from "mesenchymal stem cell," nor a change in the nomenclature when these cells are isolated from tissues, I aspire for this terminology to foster a more precise and comprehensive understanding of the therapeutic mechanisms and actual roles of these cells, ultimately helping to resolve continuous debates on their genuine therapeutic applications.