Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Conditioned Medium for Skin Diseases: A Systematic Review

• Main Authors: Trinidad Montero-Vilchez, Álvaro Sierra-Sánchez, Manuel Sanchez-Diaz, Maria Isabel Quiñones-Vico, Raquel Sanabria-de-la-Torre, Antonio Martinez-Lopez, Salvador Arias-Santiago
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2021-07-01
• Series: Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
• Subjects: advanced therapy; conditioned medium; dermatology; mesenchymal stem cells; stem cells
• Online Access: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2021.654210/full

The skin is the largest organ of the human body, and its dysfunction is related to many diseases. There is a need to find new potential effective therapies for some skin conditions such as inflammatory diseases, wound healing, or hair restoration. Mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-conditioned medium (CM) provides a potential opportunity in the treatment of skin disease. Thus, the objective of this review is to evaluate the uses of MSC-CM for treating skin diseases in both animal and human models. A systematic review was conducted regarding the use of MSC-CM for treating skin conditions. One hundred one studies were analyzed. MSC-CM was evaluated in wound healing (55), hypertrophic scars (9), flap reperfusion (4), hair restoration (15), skin rejuvenation (15), and inflammatory skin diseases (3). MSC-CM was obtained from different MSC sources, mainly adipose tissue, bone marrow, and umbilical cord blood. MSC-CM was tested intravenously, intraperitoneally, subcutaneously, intradermally or intralesionally injected or topically applied. MSC-CM was used in both animals and humans. MSC-CM improved wound healing, hair restoration, skin rejuvenation, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis in both animals and humans. MSC-CM also decreased hypertrophic scars and flap ischemia in animal models. In conclusion, MSC-CM is a promising therapy for skin conditions. Further studies are needed to corroborate safety and effectiveness and to standardize CM manufacturing.