The impact of oxygen in physiological regulation of human multipotent mesenchymal cell functions

Significant progress in studying cellular mechanisms of tissue homeostasis and physiological remodeling has been made in recent decades. Undifferentiated cells, such as multipotent mesenchymal stromal (stem) cells (MMSCs), play an important role in these processes. MMSCs were found in practically all organs occupying specific tissue niches associated with the perivascular spaces. The main characteristic of MMSCs is their ability, on the one hand, to provide structural integrity of tissues and, on the other hand, to respond to paracrine stimuli and migrate to damaged target tissues, which promotes tissue reparation. A low partial oxygen tension is the main feature of the physiological and regeneration microenvironment, which may significantly modify stromal cell properties. This review analyzes the recent data on MMSC tissue niches in terms of the integration of these cells into a comprehensive system of physiological and reparative tissue remodeling and the role of partial oxygen pressure in the fulfillment of the MMSC potential.