PhD Student The University of Hong Kong, China (People's Republic)
Abstract: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess stem cell-like characteristics including self-renewal, multifunctional differentiation and low immunogenicity, making them an ideal cell source for regenerative medicine. MSCs can be derived from adult t(i.e. adipose tissue, bone marrow, endometrium) and neonatal tissues (i.e. placenta, umbilical cord). Despite displaying similar stem cell functions, different origins of MSCs present heterogeneous characteristics and components. However, studies on these differences remain largely unexplored.
Intrauterine adhesions (IUA) significantly affects the physical and reproductive health of women. Endometrial injury and subsequent fibrous adhesions in this disease that are caused by various reasons, can severly disrupt the normal uterine physiological environment, leading to menstrual disorder and infertility. Although various treatments for IUA exist, their effectiveness is limited. Regenerative therapy using MSCs has demonstrated an outstanding and irreplaceable role in the treatment of IUA.
Our previous study demonstrated that human endometrial MSC (eMSCs) can promote the regeneration of injured endometrium in an IUA mouse model. This was characterized by reduced fibrosis, increased cell proliferation and glands formation, which contributed to the restoration of the endometrium and improved fertility outcomes. Studies using umbilical cord MSCs (UC-MSCs) have also shown their therapeutic effects in endometrial regeneration. Nevertheless, direct comparison of their therapeutic differences require further exploration. Investigating their proliferation, migration and immunoregulatory properties will provide insight into selecting the optimal MSC source for restoring the injured endometrium in women with IUA.
