Mesenchymal stem cells distribute to a wide range of tissues following systemic infusion into nonhuman primates

Ex vivo-expanded mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were transduced with a green fluorescent protein (GFP) retroviral construct and subsequently infused into 3 adult baboons following lethal total body irradiation and hematopoietic support or without any prior conditioning. To study the long-term fate of these MSCs, necropsies were performed between 9 and 21 months following MSC infusion, and an average of 16 distinct tissues were recovered from each recipient and evaluated for the presence of the GFP transgene in purified genomic DNA by sensitive real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Two baboons received autologous and one allogeneic GFP-transduced MSCs. Both allogeneic and autologous MSCs appeared to…