Dear Colleagues,

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells that can differentiate in a wide variety of tissues in order to participate in tissue regeneration at local sites after injury or disease. MSCs have been found in different tissues and have emerged as a promising tool for cell-based therapy. They can be isolated from bone marrow, adipose tissue, oral cavity, umbilical cord blood, periosteum and other parts of the body. Several studies have demonstrated the effects of hypoxia on MSCs, including proliferation, differentiation, survival rate, cytokine or growth factor secretions and cell biosafety.

MSCs in their microenvironment can react to different cues, such as inflammation and hypoxia. Hypoxia is defined as an oxygen tension that is lower than physoxia (i.e., 3–9% oxygen in most tissues). The culturing of MSCs with low oxygen tension has recently attracted significant research interest. Several studies are necessary to demonstrate the potential beneficial effects of hypoxia on MSCs derived from a wide range of sources. To better elucidate the therapeutic benefits of hypoxic preconditioning, further investigations are still required to evaluate the cellular mechanisms triggered by hypoxia treatment. Hypoxic preconditioning could have an effective role in wound healing, cardiomyocyte regeneration, and bone and cartilage repair, indicating their great potential therapeutic application in ischemic diseases and skeletal tissue defects.

Prof. Dr. Oriana Trubiani
Dr. Francesca Diomede
Dr. Jacopo Pizzicanella
Guest Editors

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• hypoxia
• mesenchymal stem cells
• stem-cell-based therapy
• cell differentiation
• regenerative medicine