{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T01:16:02Z","timestamp":1760058962068,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":41,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,15]],"date-time":"2025-05-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1747267200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JCM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Mesenchymal stem cell-based therapy may be indicated in ischaemic heart disease. The use of autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (AdMSCs) offers regenerative potential due to their paracrine effects. The aim of this study was to expand and characterise adult human thymus-derived MSCs harvested during open heart surgery with respect to their stem cell and paracrine properties. Methods: Enzymatically and non-enzymatically isolated human thymic AdMSCs (ThyAdMSCs) were cultured in xeno-free media containing pooled human platelet lysate (pPL). MSC characterisation was performed. Ex vivo expanded ThyAdMSCs were differentiated into three lineages. Proliferative capacity and immunomodulatory properties were assessed by proliferation assays and mixed lymphocyte reaction, respectively. Gene expression analysis was performed by qPCR. Results: Both isolation methods yielded fibroblast-like cells with plastic adherence and high proliferation. Flow cytometry revealed distinct expression of MSC markers in the absence of haematopoietic cell surface markers. Ex vivo expanded ThyAdMSCs could be differentiated into adipocytes, osteocytes, and chondrocytes. Activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells were significantly reduced when co-cultured with ThyAdMSCs, indicating their ability to inhibit immune cells in vitro. Gene expression analysis showed significantly less IFN\u03b3 and TNF\u03b1, indicating an alteration of the activated and pro-inflammatory state in the presence of ThyAdMSCs. Conclusions: These results demonstrate an efficient method to generate AdMSCs from human thymus. These MSCs have a strong immunomodulatory capacity and are, therefore, a promising cell source for regenerative medicine. The culture conditions are crucial for cells to proliferate in culture. Further research could explore the use of ThyAdMSCs or their secretome in surgical procedures.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm14103474","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,15]],"date-time":"2025-05-15T11:02:27Z","timestamp":1747306947000},"page":"3474","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Characterisation of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) from Human Adult Thymus as a Potential Cell Source for Regenerative Medicine"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0210-4121","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Martina","family":"Ramsperger-Gleixner","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital of Erlangen-N\u00fcrnberg, Krankenhausstra\u00dfe 12, 91054 Erlangen, Germany"},{"name":"Friedrich-Alexander Universit\u00e4t Erlangen-N\u00fcrnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Chang","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital of Erlangen-N\u00fcrnberg, Krankenhausstra\u00dfe 12, 91054 Erlangen, Germany"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Nina","family":"Wallon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital of Erlangen-N\u00fcrnberg, Krankenhausstra\u00dfe 12, 91054 Erlangen, Germany"},{"name":"Friedrich-Alexander Universit\u00e4t Erlangen-N\u00fcrnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0004-5560-8918","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Annika","family":"Kuckhahn","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital of Erlangen-N\u00fcrnberg, Krankenhausstra\u00dfe 12, 91054 Erlangen, Germany"},{"name":"Friedrich-Alexander Universit\u00e4t Erlangen-N\u00fcrnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2112-702X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Volker","family":"Weisbach","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Friedrich-Alexander Universit\u00e4t Erlangen-N\u00fcrnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany"},{"name":"Department of Transfusion Medicine and Haemostaseology, University Hospital of Erlangen-N\u00fcrnberg, Krankenhausstra\u00dfe 12, 91054 Erlangen, Germany"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Michael","family":"Weyand","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital of Erlangen-N\u00fcrnberg, Krankenhausstra\u00dfe 12, 91054 Erlangen, Germany"},{"name":"Friedrich-Alexander Universit\u00e4t Erlangen-N\u00fcrnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5884-5856","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Christian","family":"Heim","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital of Erlangen-N\u00fcrnberg, Krankenhausstra\u00dfe 12, 91054 Erlangen, Germany"},{"name":"Friedrich-Alexander Universit\u00e4t Erlangen-N\u00fcrnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany"},{"name":"Department of Cardiac and Vascular Surgery, Klinikum Bayreuth GmbH, Medizincampus Oberfranken (MCO), of Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-N\u00fcrnberg, Preuschwitzer Stra\u00dfe 101, 95445 Bayreuth, Germany"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"628767","DOI":"10.1155\/2015\/628767","article-title":"Adult Mesenchymal Stem Cells: When, Where, and How","volume":"2015","author":"Caplan","year":"2015","journal-title":"Stem Cells Int."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mahla, R.S. 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