Basically, mononuclear cells are just that - cells with a single nucleus. They typically are the cells at the interface of Ficoll-Hypaque gradients [density 1.077]. Granulocytes aka PMN are denser and sediment with the red cells. They are predominantly hematopoietic cells [CD45+].

Mesenchymal stem cells are CD45- adherent bone marrow cells that have the capacity to differentiate into at least 3 types of cells  - adipocytes and stromal cells are the two I recall off the top of my head; I forget the third cell type.

Stromal cells are fibroblast-like cells that form a monolayer in the tissue culture flask and can support the growth and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells.

As to the best markers to use for selection, that depends on the species of origin. Human MSC are typically CD44+, but CD44 is expressed on mouse HSC.

Hope this helps.

Hi, the above comment by Gary pretty much summed it up.

The definition of what constitutes a Mesenchymal Stem Cell can differ per field of research however. The most common definition is the one by the ISCT, which indeed involves plastic adherence; presence of CD105, CD73 and CD90; absence of hematopoietic markers such as CD45, CD14, CD19, CD34 and HLA-DR; and trilineage differentiation potential (i.e. in to adipocytic, osteocytic and chondrocytic lines). The definition is formalized in Dominici et al. (1)

Now increasingly this cell type is not considered a true stem cell, such as the hematopoietic stem cell or the LGR5+ intestinal crypt cell. Some features of stemness such as assymetic cell division and complete lineage renewal have never been shown with crudely defined MSCs. For this reason the term mesenchymal stromal cell is now more commonly used to describe plastic adherent bone-marrow cells.

There are, however, some newer papers that show that some, well defined subsets of MSCs have 'real' stem-cell potential in maintaining and creating the hematopoietic nice and single cell clones can reconstitute niches in sequential transplantation experiments (2,3). In that case the moniker mesenchymal stem cell may be more deserved. As far as I know, this has only been shown in mice though.

Hope this helps,

- Hendrik

1. Dominici M, Le Blanc K, Mueller I, et al. Minimal criteria for defining multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells. The International Society for Cellular Therapy position statement. Cytotherapy 2006;8(4):315–317.

2. Sacchetti, B. et al. Self-renewing osteoprogenitors in bone marrow sinusoids can organize a hematopoietic microenvironment. Cell 131, 324–336 (2007).

3. Méndez-Ferrer, S. et al. Mesenchymal and haematopoietic stem cells form a unique bone marrow niche. Nature 466, 829–834 (2010).

I would agree with Gary Lee Gilmore in his response and add a few additional points. A bone marrow stromal cell is a mononuclear fibroblast-like cell type that is contact inhibited in 2D cell culture forming a monolayer that supports hematopoietic development. A mesenchymal stem cell (CD105+, CD123+, CD166+, or CD marker equivalents) is a mononuclear tripotent progenitor stem cell that has the capacity to differentiate into three tissue types: adipose tissue, cartilage and bone. A mononuclear cell, is a cell with a single nucleus and is basically a “catch-all” terminology to denote most of the cells within the bone marrow. As noted above, bone marrow stromal cells and mesenchymal stem cells, including a whole host of other cell types can be considered as cells having a single nucleus, and as such are a mononuclear cell. The “other” mononuclear cell types in bone marrow include most cells within the hematopoietic lineage, except segmented neutrophils (PMNs) and non-nucleated erythrocytes, most cells associated with bone remodeling, except multinucleated osteoclasts (which are actually of the monocytic lineage), adipocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, ectodermal stem cells (CD90+, Thy-1+, CD56+), mesodermal stem cells (CD90+, Thy-1+, CD13+), pluripotent stem cells (CD10+, SSEA+), and totipotent stem cells (CD66e+, CEA+, CEA-CAM-1+). I know that some within the literature insinuate that the bone marrow stromal cell and the mesenchymal stem cell are the same cell type. They are not the same. Each has distinctly different function and differentiation potential. Similarly, there are those in the literature that insinuate that the mesenchymal stem cell is the same as a mesodermal stem cell or an ectodermal stem cell or pluripotent stem cell or a totipotent stem cell. They are all distinctly different from each other by way of cell surface markers and differentiation potentials.

Hello

i agree with Gary Morley and Henry E Young

Mononuclear cells is nuclei are unilobulated or rounded and which lack granules in the cytoplasm . While , Bone marrow stromal stem cells (skeletal stem cells) A multipotent subset of bone marrow stromal cells able to form bone, cartilage, stromal cells that support blood formation, fat, and fibrous tissue. BM-MSC subpopulation of the stromal cell with the character of adherence to plastic surface and fibroblast-like appearance in culture . Add , Mesenchymal stem cells in general , its cells from the Mesenchyme embryonic connective tissue. A number of cell types come from mesenchymal stem cells, including chondrocytes, which produce cartilage , osteoblasts (bone cells), muscle cells and adipocytes (fat cells). MSCs in culture express on their surface CD73, CD90 and CD105, while lacking the expression of CD11b, CD14, CD19, CD34, CD45, CD79a and HLA-DR surface markers .

Good Luck

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Can_anyone_suggest_what_is_the_difference_between_bone_marrow_derived_stromal_cells_and_bone_derived_mesenchymal_stem_cells

Hendrick Gremmels has given the most scientifically sound explanation. Based on many recent studies, the feature "stemness" for mesenchymal stem cells becoming quite controversial and even may not be assignable anymore. As an example, the HBV-transformed human bone marrow fibroblastoid line, HS-5 (which I am dealing with every single day), may be hard to consider different than or "derived" from MSCs (if any). Two papers for ref:  

Mesenchymal stem cell is a common term for those stem cell which are oroginated from a niche/site of mesenchyme origin and so named differently as adipose stem cell, stromal stem cell, omentum stem cell etc. The term stromal cell are used for those mesenchymal cells that are originated by bone marrow. If a stromal cell has stem cell property then it is called as stromal stem cell.

While the term Mononuclear cells are used to denominate those bone marrow cells whose nuclei are large, unilobulated or rounded and lack granules in their cytoplasm. In case of bone marrow derived mononuclear cells, this included lymphocytes, monocytes, immature lymphocytes and monocytes, and mononuclear stem cells.

Mesenchymal stem cell is a common term for those stem cell which are oroginated from a niche/site of mesenchyme origin and so named differently as adipose stem cell, stromal stem cell, omentum stem cell etc. The term bone marrow stromal cell are used for those non-hematopoitic connective tiisue/cells of mesenchymal origin that are originated in bone marrow. If a stromal cell has stem cell property then it is called as stromal stem cell.

While the term Mononuclear cell is a term used to generallty denominate those blood and bone marrow cells of the whose nuclei are large, unilobulated or rounded and lack granules in their cytoplasm. In case of bone marrow derived mononuclear cells, this included lymphocytes, monocytes, immature lymphocytes and monocytes, and also the mononuclear stem cells.The mononuclear stem cells of blood and BM consists of both hematopoitic stem cells and non-hematopoitic stem cells/ BM stromal stem cells/BM mesenchymal cells

Mesenchymal stem cell is a common term for those stem cell which are originated from a niche/site of mesenchyme origin and so named differently as adipose stem cell, stromal stem cell, omentum stem cell etc. The term bone marrow stromal cell are used for those non-hematopoitic connective tissue/cells of mesenchymal origin that are originated in bone marrow. If a stromal cell has stem cell property then it is called as stromal stem cell.

While the term Mononuclear cell is a term used to generally denominate those blood and bone marrow cells of the whose nuclei are large, unilobulated or rounded and lack granules in their cytoplasm. In case of bone marrow derived mononuclear cells, this included lymphocytes, monocytes, immature lymphocytes and monocytes, and also the mononuclear stem cells.The mononuclear stem cells of blood and BM consists of both hematopoitic stem cells and non-hematopoitic stem cells/ BM stromal stem cells/BM mesenchymal cells