# Redefining mesenchymal stem cells: using their cellular and molecular phenotypes to determine their regenerative and therapeutic properties

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2020 · $405,389

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have broad-based potential in regenerative medicine cell therapies and
can be isolated from a variety of different tissues. Though MSCs from different tissues are phenotypically
similar, a barrier to their clinical use is the high variability of their trophic and regenerative properties. This
variability suggests that inherent differences exist in the molecular machinery guiding MSC properties
between different MSC populations, yet, to date, these differences are ill-defined. To this end, we have
preliminary evidence that MSC phenotypes correlate to their regenerative outcomes. In this study, we aim
to elucidate how the molecular and cellular properties of distinct MSC populations determine their
regenerative properties. Our hypothesis is that MSCs from different tissues have different regenerative
properties which correlate to specific molecular profiles defined by gene expression and transcriptional
activity. To test this hypothesis, the project proposed has three Specific Aims (SAs). In SA1, we will
determine how tissue-specificity dictates gene expression and dynamic transcription factor activity
of distinct MSCs. SA2 will determine how differences in the cellular and molecular properties of
MSCs correlate to MSC phenotype. Finally, in SA3, we will determine how the molecular profiles and
cellular activities of MSCs dictate their regenerative properties. Findings of the proposed study will
provide novel insights about how the distinct molecular profiles of MSCs dictate their biological and
physiological properties. In a therapeutic context, this would enable the development of innovative
screening technologies for MSC therapies to identify and enrich for the most appropriate MSC for the
specific therapeutic application.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9954044
- **Project number:** 5R01DE028657-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** DARNELL KAIGLER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $405,389
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-01 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9954044

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9954044, Redefining mesenchymal stem cells: using their cellular and molecular phenotypes to determine their regenerative and therapeutic properties (5R01DE028657-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9954044. Licensed CC0.

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