Cytokine and growth factor receptors on host cells activated by MSC-secreted factors

Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) exert their therapeutic effects primarily through paracrine signaling, secreting a diverse array of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors collectively known as the secretome (Galipeau & Sensébé, 2018). These factors target a wide range of receptors on host cells, including immune cells such as T cells and macrophages, as well as endothelial cells and fibroblasts (Pittenger et al., 2019). Key receptors involved in this interaction include the TGF-beta receptors, IL-10 receptors, and various growth factor receptors like VEGFR and c-Met (Caplan & Correa, 2011). Activation of these receptors leads to the suppression of pro-inflammatory responses, induction of regulatory T cells, promotion of angiogenesis, and enhancement of endogenous tissue repair mechanisms (Kyurkchiev et al., 2014). While MSC-based therapies are being investigated for numerous inflammatory and degenerative conditions, the complexity of targeting multiple receptors simultaneously presents significant challenges in standardization and predicting clinical outcomes (Galipeau et al., 2016).

Other names

MSC secretome receptorsMesenchymal stem cell paracrine targetsHost cell receptors for MSC-derived factorsMSC-responsive host receptors

Paracrine activation of host cell signaling pathways to induce immunomodulation and tissue regeneration.