Mesoblast's stem cells - Nature's warriors

Mesoblast’s stem cells have receptors that are activated by cytokines released by inflamed tissue. These stem cells then 'lock onto' the cells producing cytokines and make immuno-modulatory proteins which travel to the site of cytokine production and prevent further production.

The world’s most advanced jet fighter, the 5th generation F22 Raptor uses advanced onboard radar that sweeps a radio beam in any direction looking for the enemy. In response to receiving a reflected beam, the F22 Raptor will 'lock onto' the source of that beam and fire a missile guided by the appropriate technology, for example using active radar or heat seeking guidance.

Not a bad analogy - between Mesoblast's stem cell immuno-modulatory technology and that of the F22 Raptor’s weapon system’s technology.

Interestingly, in response to signals from impaired tissue, Mesoblast’s stem cells also:
* secrete growth factors that act on endothelial cells to promote blood vessel repair and regeneration, and
* secrete biologic molecules that promote survival and function of mature cells within compromised tissue including boosting the functionality of endogenous stem cells within this tissue.

This stem cell diverse functionality has evolved over an immense time span. Many scientists have the view that stem cells existed about 2,100 million years ago when complex “modern” eukaryote cells (containing nuclei and other internal organelles) first appeared.

Scientists agree that stem cells evolved over time to have increasingly more functionality as evident from an understanding of the emergence of new animal classes including the first sea vertebrates (500 million years), the first land vertebrates (360 million years) and the emergence of mammals about 220 million years ago.

And now in 2017 Mesoblast has considerable patented technology relating to the manufacture and use of the stem cells designed by nature to herald a paradigm shift in medicine.

So Mesoblast stem cells have quite a pedigree! I think of them as nature’s warriors - natural "cellular medicine'' going to the core of many ailments rather than acting as a “band-aid” solution.