Gender-independent efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell therapy in sex hormone-deficient bone loss via immunosuppression and resident stem cell recovery

Abstract

Osteoporosis: Stem cell therapy success for both sexes Stem cell therapy shows promise in reversing the bone loss caused by sex hormone deficiency in male and female mice. Adult stem cells, known as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), have been shown to facilitate bone healing when administered into the caudal vein of mice. Yan Jin and Cheng-Hu Hu at Fourth Military Medical University in Xi’an, China, and co-workers investigated the efficacy of MSC-based therapy in treating osteoporosis triggered by the loss of sex hormones. They generated mouse models with sex hormone deficiencies, and showed that the resulting osteoporosis seen was remarkably similar in males and females. MSC transplantation resulted in the restoration of bone formation and bone resorption processes in both sexes. The transplanted MSCs also suppressed the inflammation associated with osteoporosis, allowing resident MSC populations in the bone marrow to recover bone damage.