Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Regenerative Medicine, Possible Applications in The Restoration of Spermatogenesis: A Review

Abstract

Infertility is a common clinical condition and about half of the major causes are due to male-related infertility. Pathogenesisof this abnormality is generally undefined; so establishing a proper treatment option is relatively uncertain. In recentyears, several evidences demonstrated that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be a hope for innovative and efficienttreatment of male infertility. This study reviews possible applications of MSCs in the restoration of spermatogenesisin male infertility of both humans and animals to suggest new avenues for future clinical practices. Articles publishedin “PubMed” and “Google Scholar” from January 1, 2000, to August 1, 2023, were investigated by searching items of“mesenchymal stem cells”, “cell therapy”, “cell transplantation”, and, “regenerative medicine” keywords, in additionto the “urology”, “andrology”, “reproductive medicine”, “male infertility”, “azoospermia”, and “spermatogenesis”. Theresults obtained from the transplantation of MSCs in the treatment of male infertility seemed encouraging and theyrevealed the safety and efficacy of these cells to recover spermatogenesis; eventhough further stem cell researchis still required before recruiting clinical application of MSCs in the treatment of human male infertility. Undertaking morewell-defined, standardized, and reproducible protocols and enrolling larger sample sizes during a longer follow-upperiod can benefit the relevance of MSC transplantation in the restoration of spermatogenesis and treatment of maleinfertility. It seems that developing and utilizing stem cell transplantations, exosomes, scaffold delivery systems, andthree dimensional (3D) culture methods may open a new window to getting more benefits from cell therapy in thetreatment of men infertility.

Keywords

• azoospermia
• male infertility
• mesenchymal stem cell transplantation
• reproductive medicine
• spermatogenesis