Introduction: The bacterium known in the scientific world as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a cause for concern not only because of its resistance to many traditional antimicrobials, but also because it is associated with high mortality rates worldwide. Since stem cells are a promising treatment for bacterial infections, the authors set out to investigate the antibacterial potential of the secretome of stem cells derived from body fat against bacteria of the MRSA strain. It should be clarified that the secretome is the set of molecules that stem cells secrete into the extracellular milieu and that are key in intercellular communication and tissue regeneration.
Methods: For this purpose, through classical microbiological methods, the antibacterial activity of different strains of staphylococci was evaluated and bacterial genes causing resistance to multiple antimicrobials were identified.
Results: 96% of the staphylococcal strains studied showed susceptibility to stem cell secretome, including 87.7% of MRSA.
Conclusion: significant antibacterial activity was demonstrated with the secretome studied, against one of the bacteria that causes the most deaths in the world. This study, however, was performed in vitro, which means that its clinical applications still need to be explored.
Reference: Shaaban F, Salem Sokhn E, Khalil C, Saleh FA. Antimicrobial activity of adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cell secretome against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2025 Jan 23;16(1):21. doi: 10.1186/s13287-025-04138-3.
