Purpose of review: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a chronic disease with few treatment options available. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview on treating OI with mesenchymal stem cells (MSC).
Recent findings: Off-the-shelf MSC have a good safety profile and exhibit multilineage differentiation potential and a low immunogenic profile and are easy to manufacture. Their ability to migrate, engraft, and differentiate into bone cells, and also to act via paracrine effects on the recipient's tissues, makes MSC candidates as a clinical therapy for OI. Due to their high osteogenic potency, fetal MSC offer an even higher therapeutic potential in OI compared with MSC derived from adult sources. Preclinical and initial clinical data support the use of MSC in treating OI. The characteristics of MSC make them of great interest in treating OI. MSC may be safely transplanted via intravenous administration and show potential positive clinical effects.
Keywords: Brittle bones; Mesenchymal stem cells; Osteogenesis imperfecta; Prenatal therapy; Stem cell therapy; Stem cell transplantation.