ObjectiveTo review the current progresses in purification strategies, biological characters, and the uses in tissue engineering of urine-derived stem cells (USCs). MethodsRecent relevant publications on the USCs were extensively reviewed, analyzed, and summarized. ResultsUSCs, usually isolated by adherence screening method, are a population of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-like somatic stem cells possessing robust self-renew and multi-potential differentiation ability. Combined with using appropriate biomaterials and biological molecules, USCs can be used as a good cell source for tissue engineering. ConclusionAn alluring prospect exists on the USCs-related research. Further studies are required to investigate the origin, individual differences, and the therapeutic values of USCs.
Urine-derived stem cells are a kind of cells with strong proliferative ability and multi-directional differentiation characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells isolated from urine. Urine-derived stem cells are derived from the kidney and express mesenchymal stem cell-specific antigens; experimental studies have shown that they can differentiate into a variety of cells such as adipocytes, chondrocytes, bone cells, nerve cells, etc., and have the function of promoting tissue repair. A review of the research progress of urinary stem cells is now available.