Editorial
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Stem Cells. Aug 26, 2024; 16(8): 773-779
Published online Aug 26, 2024. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v16.i8.773
Pretreatment can alleviate programmed cell death in mesenchymal stem cells
Xin-Xing Wan, Xi-Min Hu, Qi Zhang, Kun Xiong
Xin-Xing Wan, Department of Endocrinology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan Province, China
Xi-Min Hu, Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China
Qi Zhang, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Central South University, Changsha 410000, Hunan Province, China
Kun Xiong, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan Province, China
Author contributions: Wan XX, Hu XM, and Zhang Q wrote the manuscript; Xiong K revised and supervised the manuscript; All authors read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 82372507.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: Https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Kun Xiong, PhD, Professor, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, No. 172 Tongzipo Road, Changsha 410013, Hunan Province, China. xiongkun2001@163.com
Received: May 13, 2024
Revised: July 4, 2024
Accepted: July 26, 2024
Published online: August 26, 2024
Processing time: 104 Days and 14.9 Hours
Abstract

In this editorial, we delved into the article titled “Cellular preconditioning and mesenchymal stem cell ferroptosis.” This groundbreaking study underscores a pivotal discovery: Ferroptosis, a type of programmed cell death, drastically reduces the viability of donor mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) after engraftment, thereby undermining the therapeutic value of cell-based therapies. Furthermore, the article proposes that by manipulating ferroptosis mechanisms through preconditioning, we can potentially enhance the survival rate and functionality of MSCs, ultimately amplifying their therapeutic potential. Given the crucial role ferroptosis plays in shaping the therapeutic outcomes of MSCs, we deem it imperative to further investigate the intricate interplay between programmed cell death and the therapeutic effectiveness of MSCs.

Keywords: Mesenchymal stem cells; Programmed cell death; Apoptosis; Autophagy; Ferroptosis

Core Tip: As ferroptosis, a distinct form of programmed cell death, significantly impairs the post-engraftment viability of donor mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), it assumes paramount importance in dictating the therapeutic efficacy of these cells. Recognizing the pivotal role ferroptosis exerts in shaping the outcome of MSC-based therapies, we underscore the urgency to delve deeper into the intricate relationship between this mode of cell death and the therapeutic potency of MSCs. In this context, we presented our viewpoint on the recently published editorial entitled “Cellular preconditioning and mesenchymal stem cell ferroptosis,” offering insights into this intricate interplay.