Failure of in vitro–differentiated mesenchymal stem cells from the synovial membrane to form ectopic stable cartilage in vivo

The chondrocyte-like phenotype of human SM MSCs, induced in vitro under specific conditions, appears to be unstable and is not sufficient to obtain ectopic formation of stable cartilage in vivo. Studies in animal models of joint surface defect repair are necessary to evaluate the stability of the SM MSC chondrocyte-like phenotype within the joint environment.