Adult Mesenchymal stem cells have been identified in different tissues and are a part of the tissue’s support network. MSCs have generated a lot of excitement because they have been shown to trans-differentiate into different lineage cells in vitro apart from the major specialized cells of the tissue. However, it is not very clear whether stem cells derived from different tissue originate from a common source and thus share similar properties or they have differences pertaining to differences in the tissue microenvironments. The main focus of the group is to understand and compare the inherent properties of Mesenchymal stem cells isolated from different tissues with respect to their self-renewal, trans-differentiation potential and immune-properties.

Ongoing Projects:

1. Immunobiology of Mesenchymal stem cells
   MSCs have been reported to be immune-evasive and are thus potential candidates for cell based therapy in an allogenic setting. Apart from this MSCs have immune-regulatory properties which can be exploited to treat inflammatory disorders, reduce GVHD and manage autoimmune disorders. This study thus broadly aims at studying the interactions between MSCs and immune cells in order to understand how a host’s immune system responds to autologous and allogenic stem cell engraftment.

2. Understanding differences in self-renewal between normal stem cells and stem cells isolated from tumours

Similarities in self-renewal properties of stem cells and cancer cells have led to the concept of a cancer stem cell. This stem-like cancer cell has been now rechristened as a Cancer initiating cell. This study involves understanding the micro-environmental factors responsible for sustaining a cancer stem cell homing niche. Acute inflammation plays an important role in development of carcinogenesis; one good example being hepato-cellular carcinomas. We are in the process of understanding the role of inflammation in maintaining a deregulated stem cell, in context of liver tumours.