Mesenchymal stem cell therapy in joint disease.

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Mesenchymal stem cells have the capacity to differentiate into a variety of connective tissue cells including bone, cartilage, tendon, muscle and adipose tissue. These multipotent cells have been isolated from bone marrow and from other adult tissues including skeletal muscle, fat and synovium. Because of their multipotentiality and capacity for self renewal adult stem cells may represent units of active regeneration of tissues damaged as a result of trauma or disease. In certain degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis (OA) stem cells are depleted, and have reduced proliferative capacity and reduced ability to differentiate. The delivery of stem cells to these individuals may therefore enhance repair or inhibit the progressive destruction of the joint. We have developed methods for the delivery of mesenchymal stem cell preparations taken from bone marrow to the injured knee joint. This treatment has the potential to stimulate regeneration of cartilage and retard the progressive destruction of the joint that typically occurs following injury.

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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