Advances in Adipose-Derived Stem/Stromal Cell-Based Therapies from the Perspectives of the Bench and the Bedside

Dear Colleagues,

The discovery of nonhematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow by Friedenstein enabled a completely new way of viewing the therapeutic use of such stem cells, which had previously been reserved for bone marrow transplants. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)—the term proposed by Arnold Caplan (currently under discussion as instigated and also moderated by Arnold himself)—were also subsequently found in other tissues. Among these, adipose tissue is currently considered one of the most promising source of MSCs for various therapeutic applications. The multipotency of adipose-derived stem/stromal cells (ADSCs) was demonstrated by Patricia Zuk at the beginning of the century, and the number of pieces of experimental data obtained since then is unprecedented. We are now in perhaps the most exciting moment in the development of the road for ADSCs to clinics, representing great hopes accompanied many questions of both a basic and application nature, such as in the following.

Stemness of ADSCs—academic discussion or a critical matter?

Autologous or allogenic delivery in humans?

Mode of action—regenerative capacity, immunomodulatory activity via ADSC derivatives (microvesicles, paracrine activity, or both)?

How to determine the optimal doses of medicinal products with ADSC as an active substance?

Very different indications, different doses, different ways of administration—how to draw exhaustive, credible conclusions from the available clinical trial data?

Donor-dependent differences in ADSC characteristics and the significant influence of culture conditions–how to deal with this to obtain the desired clinical effects?

How to help regulatory bodies fight against the abuse of ADSC-based therapy while inhibiting overregulation?

How to find new cheaper and more effective methods of preparing ADSC-based ATMPs?

Do we have truly innovative tissue-engineered ADSC-based products from the perspective of manufacturing in withing the GMP regime?

Both original research papers and review contributions addressing these questions or posing new ones are very welcome to this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Małgorzata Lewandowska-Szumieł
Guest Editor

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