CIGARETTE smoke significantly impairs the regenerative functions of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), raising critical concerns for their therapeutic use in regenerative medicine, according to a new review. The findings underscore the importance of considering smoking history in patients undergoing stem cell–based therapies.
Despite decades of evidence about the health risks of tobacco use, cigarette smoking remains prevalent worldwide and contributes to millions of deaths each year. Beyond its impact on organs and tissues, cigarette smoke introduces harmful toxins that compromise cellular health at a fundamental level. MSCs, which are increasingly utilized in clinical research and therapies for their ability to repair damaged tissues, modulate immune responses, and support regeneration, appear to be especially vulnerable.
The review details how exposure to cigarette smoke interferes with several key MSC functions. Proliferation and viability are diminished, limiting the cells’ ability to survive and expand after transplantation. Their migratory potential, essential for homing to sites of injury, is also reduced. In addition, differentiation into specialized lineages is impaired, while immunomodulatory capacity is altered, potentially weakening their therapeutic value.
These findings suggest that cigarette smoke undermines multiple aspects of MSC biology, which could compromise outcomes in regenerative medicine. Given that smoking remains widespread, clinicians and researchers are urged to weigh the impact of smoking history when selecting patients for MSC therapies. Furthermore, the authors emphasize the need for additional studies to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying these impairments and to explore strategies for mitigating smoke-induced toxicity.
By highlighting the intersection between lifestyle exposures and regenerative therapies, this work reinforces the necessity of comprehensive patient assessments and provides a framework for refining the use of MSCs in clinical settings.
Reference: Pavlovic D et al. Impact of cigarette smoke on the functions of mesenchymal stem cells. Cell Transplant. 2025;34:9636897251374178.
