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Volume 16
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10.3390/life16010010
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Review

Cell Surface Markers of Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Current Knowledge and Advances in Characterization Technologies

by
Angelo Santoro
1,
Manuela Grimaldi
1,
Carmen Marino
1,
Enza Napolitano
1,
Michela Buonocore
2,* and
Anna Maria D’Ursi
1,*
1
Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Salerno, Italy
2
Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples “Federico II”, Complesso Universitario Monte Sant’Angelo, Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Life 2026, 16(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16010010
Submission received: 2 December 2025 / Revised: 17 December 2025 / Accepted: 19 December 2025 / Published: 21 December 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Unlocking New Biochemical Pathways: A Bridge for Drug Development in Human and Animal Diseases)
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Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are pivotal in regenerative medicine due to their high differentiation potential and therapeutic versatility. MSCs are multipotent cells capable of differentiating into adipocytes, chondroblasts, osteoblasts, and, under specific conditions, neural, myocyte, and epidermal lineages. This cell type contributes to tissue repair, immunomodulation, and regenerative therapies for cardiac, orthopedic, and hematological disorders. Accurate identification and characterization of these stem cells are essential for both research and clinical applications. MSCs are typically defined by plastic adherence, expression of surface markers CD105, CD73, and CD90, low or absent expression of hematopoietic markers (CD45, CD34), and in vitro differentiation potential. Understanding the expression patterns and functional relevance of these surface markers is critical for improving isolation strategies, enhancing therapeutic efficacy, and minimizing adverse effects. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the principal surface markers of MSCs, highlighting their significance in stem cell biology and clinical translation.
Keywords: mesenchymal stem cells; surface marker profiling; MSC heterogeneity; stromal subpopulations; phenotypic characterization mesenchymal stem cells; surface marker profiling; MSC heterogeneity; stromal subpopulations; phenotypic characterization

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MDPI and ACS Style

Santoro, A.; Grimaldi, M.; Marino, C.; Napolitano, E.; Buonocore, M.; D’Ursi, A.M. Cell Surface Markers of Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Current Knowledge and Advances in Characterization Technologies. Life 2026, 16, 10. https://doi.org/10.3390/life16010010

AMA Style

Santoro A, Grimaldi M, Marino C, Napolitano E, Buonocore M, D’Ursi AM. Cell Surface Markers of Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Current Knowledge and Advances in Characterization Technologies. Life. 2026; 16(1):10. https://doi.org/10.3390/life16010010

Chicago/Turabian Style

Santoro, Angelo, Manuela Grimaldi, Carmen Marino, Enza Napolitano, Michela Buonocore, and Anna Maria D’Ursi. 2026. "Cell Surface Markers of Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Current Knowledge and Advances in Characterization Technologies" Life 16, no. 1: 10. https://doi.org/10.3390/life16010010

APA Style

Santoro, A., Grimaldi, M., Marino, C., Napolitano, E., Buonocore, M., & D’Ursi, A. M. (2026). Cell Surface Markers of Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Current Knowledge and Advances in Characterization Technologies. Life, 16(1), 10. https://doi.org/10.3390/life16010010

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