Institute of Immunology, Center for Biomedical Research and Education, Witten/Herdecke University, Stockumer Str. 10, 58448, Witten, Germany,
Adv Biochem Eng Biotechnol. 2013;129:117-36. doi: 10.1007/10_2012_144.
Mesenchymal stem cells raise great expectations in regenerative medicine due to their capacity to regenerate damaged tissues, thereby restoring organ tissue integrity and functionality. Even though it is not yet clear how mesenchymal stem cells are guided to injured tissue it is generally assumed that the directed migration of these cells is facilitated by the same soluble factors that also recruit immune competent cells to inflamed tissue areas. Tumor tissue represents another type of (chronically) inflamed tissue and because of that mesenchymal stem cells are highly attracted. Although some data indicate that esenchymal stem cells might have a beneficial effect on tumor growth due to anti-tumor effects the plethora of data suggest that tumor tissue recruited mesenchymal stem cells rather promote tumor growth and metastasis formation. Nonetheless, the enhanced tumor tropism of mesenchymal stem cells makes them ideal candidates for novel anti-cancer strategies. Like Trojan Horses genetically modified mesenchymal stem cells will deliver their deadly cargo, such as anti-tumor cytokines or oncolytic viruses, into cancerous tissues, thereby destroying the tumor form within. In this chapter we will summarize the current concepts of genetic modification of mesenchymal stem cells for future anti-cancer therapies.
间充质干细胞因其能够再生受损组织，从而恢复器官组织完整性和功能，在再生医学中寄予厚望。尽管目前尚不清楚间充质干细胞如何被引导到受损组织，但人们普遍认为，这些细胞的定向迁移是由同样的可溶性因子促进的，这些因子也将免疫活性细胞招募到炎症组织区域。肿瘤组织代表另一种（慢性）炎症组织，因此间充质干细胞高度吸引。尽管一些数据表明，间充质干细胞由于抗肿瘤作用可能对肿瘤生长有有益的影响，但大量数据表明，肿瘤组织募集的间充质干细胞反而促进肿瘤生长和转移形成。尽管如此，间充质干细胞增强的肿瘤趋向性使它们成为新型抗癌策略的理想候选者。就像特洛伊木马一样，经过基因修饰的间充质干细胞将把它们致命的货物，如抗肿瘤细胞因子或溶瘤病毒，输送到癌组织中，从而在内部摧毁肿瘤。在本章中，我们将总结用于未来抗癌治疗的间充质干细胞基因修饰的当前概念。
