Eph/ephrin Signaling and Biology of Mesenchymal Stromal/Stem Cells

Abstract

Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as important therapeutic agents, owing to their easy isolation and culture, and their remarkable immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. However, MSCs constitute a heterogeneous cell population which does not express specific cell markers and has important problems for in vivo homing, and factors regulating their survival, proliferation, and differentiation are largely unknown. Accordingly, in the present article, we review the current evidence on the relationships between Eph kinase receptors, their ephrin ligands, and MSCs. These molecules are involved in the adult homeostasis of numerous tissues, and we and other authors have demonstrated their expression in human and murine MSCs derived from both bone marrow and adipose tissue, as well as their involvement in the MSC biology. We extend these studies providing new results on the effects of Eph/ephrins in the differentiation and immunomodulatory properties of MSCsLas células madre mesenquimales (MSC) se han convertido en importantes agentes terapéuticos, debido a su fácil aislamiento y cultivo, y a sus notables propiedades inmunomoduladoras y antiinflamatorias, aunque se desconocen múltiples aspectos de su biología. En este artículo revisamos los trabajos existentes sobre las MSC y los receptores Eph, y sus ligandos (ephrinas), ya que estas tirosina-kinasas participan en la homeostasis adulta de numerosos tejidos. Además, incorporamos nuevos resultados sobre los efectos de dicha señalización en la diferenciación y las propiedades inmunomoduladoras de las MSC.