What Are MSCs?

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), also called mesenchymal stromal cells, are adult multipotent cells capable of self‑renewal and differentiation into bone, cartilage and fat cells. The International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) defines MSCs by three minimal criteria: they must adhere to plastic in culture, express surface markers CD105, CD90 and CD73 in ≥95 % of cells and lack expression of hematopoietic markers such as CD45, CD34 and HLA‑DR (≤2 %). They must also differentiate into osteoblasts, adipocytes and chondroblasts in vitro. Because MSCs can modulate inflammation and promote tissue repair, they are central to many regenerative medicine therapies.Resource: frontiersin.org

Bone marrow‑derived MSCs (BM‑MSCs)

Traditionally, the gold‑standard source. Bone marrow is usually aspirated from the pelvis (iliac crest) under local anesthesia; the procedure takes roughly 20–30 minutes. Single‑site aspiration yields high cell numbers but draws more peripheral blood; multiple‑site aspiration reduces blood contamination and improves purity. Slow aspiration and specialized needles with lateral openings (e.g., Marrow Cellution) help preserve MSC viability. However, MSC yield decreases with age and conditions like osteoporosis.

Adipose‑derived MSCs (ASCs)

Liposuction of subcutaneous fat (abdomen, flanks) under local anesthesia provides tissue rich in MSCs. Adipose tissue is much more accessible and yields ~5 × 10³ MSCs per gram—about 500× more cells than the same volume of bone marrow. ASCs proliferate faster and display strong immunomodulatory, pro‑angiogenic and antioxidative properties.

Umbilical cord/Wharton’s jelly (WJ‑MSCs)

After childbirth, the umbilical cord can be processed via enzymatic digestion or explant culture. Both methods yield about 3.5–4.0 million MSCs per gram of Wharton’s jelly. WJ‑MSCs are highly proliferative, have low immunogenicity and minimal ethical concerns because the cord is medical waste.

Placenta‑derived MSCs

MSCs can be isolated from the amniotic membrane, chorionic plate, decidua and placenta. Isolation yields range from 0.34 to 1.52 million cells per gram of tissue. Like WJ‑MSCs, placental MSCs are readily available after birth and avoid invasive harvesting.

Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs)

Obtained from extracted wisdom or deciduous teeth. DPSCs are easy to isolate and are being explored for craniofacial and dental regeneration, though they yield fewer cells than adipose or cord sources.

Which Source Is Best?

The choice of source depends on your health, age and treatment goals. Adipose tissue provides the highest cell numbers per gram and is easily harvested. Umbilical cord and placental tissues offer immunologically naïve cells with high proliferative capacity, but they are only available at birth and thus require banked products. Bone marrow remains a standard for autologous therapy but yields fewer cells and is affected by age and underlying health. A consultation with our clinical team will help determine the optimal source for your needs. Resources: inflammregen.biomedcentral.com, stemcellres.biomedcentral.com, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The MSC Harvesting Procedure

Consultation & Screening. We review your medical history and determine whether MSC therapy is appropriate. Patients with severe systemic illnesses or bleeding disorders may not be candidates.
Tissue Collection. For bone marrow aspiration, you lie comfortably under local anesthesia. A specialized needle is inserted into the iliac crest or proximal tibia and marrow is aspirated slowly from multiple sites to maximize yield and minimize blood contamination. The procedure usually lasts 20–30 minutes. For adipose harvesting, a small-volume liposuction is performed to collect fat rich in MSCs. Resource: istobiologics.com, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
MSC Isolation. The collected tissue is processed in a sterile lab. For bone marrow, red blood cells are separated to produce bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC). For adipose tissue, enzymatic digestion frees the stromal vascular fraction rich in ASCs. For umbilical cord or placental tissues, digestion or explant culture yields millions of MSCs per gram. Resource: stemcellres.biomedcentral.com pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
Preparation & Infusion. After isolation, your MSCs may be prepared for injection into joints, tendons or intravenously, depending on the condition treated. Advanced processing techniques ensure cells meet ISCT criteria. Resource: frontiersin.org.

Recovery. MSC harvesting is minimally invasive; most patients return to normal activities within 24 hours. Some bruising or discomfort at the harvest site is normal.

Condition

Evidence & Approvals

Graft‑versus‑host disease (GVHD)

On December 18, 2024, the U.S. FDA approved Ryoncil (remestemcel‑L‑rknd), the first MSC therapy for steroid‑refractory acute GVHD in children. Resource: fda.gov

Autoimmune diseases (SLE, IBD)

Clinical trials (over 10,000 MSC‑related studies registered worldwide) investigate MSCs for systemic lupus erythematosus, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Results suggest improved immune regulation and reduced inflammation. Resource: stemcellres.biomedcentral.com

Orthopedic disorders

MSCs delivered via BMAC or ASCs are used in osteoarthritis and tendon injuries to modulate inflammation and promote tissue repair. High cell yields from adipose tissue offer significant regenerative potential. Resource: inflammregen.biomedcentral.com

Neurological injury

Early trials explore MSCs for spinal cord injury and ischemic stroke, leveraging their neuroprotective and angiogenic properties. Resource: stemcellres.biomedcentral.com

Cardiovascular and limb ischemia

MSC therapies are under investigation for critical limb ischemia and heart failure, aimed at promoting angiogenesis and tissue regeneration. Resource: stemcellres.biomedcentral.com

Please note: While early results are promising, MSC therapies are still considered experimental for many indications, and outcomes vary. Patients should discuss potential benefits and risks with their physician.

Safety and Considerations

Low Immunogenicity: MSCs lack major histocompatibility complex class II and costimulatory molecules, so they rarely trigger immune rejection when used in allogeneic products. Resource: stemcellres.biomedcentral.com
Patient Factors: MSC yield declines with age, smoking and conditions such as osteoporosis. Younger patients and those with healthier tissues generally provide more potent cells. Resource: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Procedure Risks: Harvesting may cause mild pain, bruising or temporary swelling. Serious complications (infection, nerve injury) are rare but possible. All procedures are performed under sterile conditions by experienced clinicians.

Regulatory Oversight: Our treatments adhere to FDA and ISCT guidelines to ensure quality and safety. MSC therapies marketed in the U.S. must meet rigorous manufacturing standards.

Why Choose Dr. Robert Whitfield?

Dr. Robert Whitfield is a board‑certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in regenerative medicine. He offers a patient‑centric, minimally invasive MSC harvesting and delivery process that prioritizes safety and outcomes. Our state‑of‑the‑art facility complies with all regulatory requirements, and our team stays up‑to‑date with the latest scientific advances.

Start Your Regenerative Journey

To learn whether MSC therapy is right for you, schedule a consultation with Dr. Whitfield. We will review your medical history, discuss your goals and design a personalized plan. Call us or complete the form on this page to take the first step toward regenerative healing.

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Educational References:

Zazzeroni et al., “Considerations on the harvesting site and donor derivation for MSC‑based strategies” – details the differences in MSC yield and the importance of donor age and health pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
FURU et al., “Adipose‑derived stem cells: current state and perspectives for regenerative medicine” – highlights the abundance and immunomodulatory properties of ASCs inflammregen.biomedcentral.com inflammregen.biomedcentral.com.
Liu et al., “Advances in umbilical cord and Wharton’s jelly MSCs” – reports high cell yields and low immunogenicity of WJ‑MSCs stemcellres.biomedcentral.com stemcellres.biomedcentral.com.
Komsa et al., “Cell isolation from placenta and umbilical cord tissues” – quantifies MSC yields from placental tissues pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
Isto Biologics, “Bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) procedure” – describes the 20–30 minute procedure under local anesthesia istobiologics.com.

FDA Press Release: “FDA approves first MSC therapy for GVHD” – documents the approval of Ryoncil on Dec 18 2024 fda.gov.

Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC) Harvesting & Therapy