Application of stem cells in tissue engineering has proved to be effective in many cases due to great proliferation and differen-tiation potentials as well as possible paracrine effects of these cells. Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are recognized as avaluable source for vascular tissue engineering, which requires endothelial and perivascular cells. The goal of this review is tosurvey the potential of MSCs for engineering functional blood vessels in comparison with other cell types including bone marrowmononuclear cells, endothelial precursor cells, differentiated adult autologous smooth muscle cells, autologous endothelial cells,embryonic stem cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells. In conclusion, MSCs represent a preference in making autologoustissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) as well as off-the-shelf TEVGs for emergency vascular surgery cases.

Keywords