Microenvironmental Regulation of Adult Mesenchymal Stem Cells

This chapter aims to present the importance of the cell-extrinsic factors that influence the identity and activities of adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The focus is on microenvironmental cues that represent a concert of signals coming from the niche in which the MSC finds itself. These signals are generated by contact with surrounding cells, by soluble factors that can be autocrine, paracrine, or endocrine in nature, and by the extracellular matrix surrounding the cell. Even fragments of matrix molecules and small molecules like oxygen can influence the behavior of an MSC. In vivo, these signals work together in intricate harmony to regulate the regenerative abilities of MSCs. By learning more about the mechanisms of action, specificities and interactions of each member of this environmental orchestra, it will be possible to manipulate MSCs for therapeutic applications to diseases and injuries.