We are happy to share the publication of a new study titled “Osteopontin Preconditioning Improves the Regenerative Effects of Mesenchymal Stem Cells In Vitro but Not Their Therapeutic Efficacy Following Hypoxia-Ischemia in Mice.” In this study, we investigated whether preconditioning MSCs with osteopontin, a cytokine involved in tissue repair, could further enhance the MSC therapeutic potential. The results show that osteopontin preconditioning significantly boosts MSC regenerative functions in vitro, including increased migratory capacity, enhanced secretion of neurotrophic factors and neuroregenerative potential. However, when tested in a mouse model of hypoxia-ischemia, this preconditioning strategy did not improve the therapeutic efficacy of MSCs in vivo. These findings highlight an important discrepancy between in vitro and in vivo outcomes, emphasizing the need to refine preclinical strategies to better translate cellular therapies toward clinical application in neonatal brain injury.
