Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be used as therapeutic agents or as starting cells for tissue-engineered skeletal tissues such as cartilage. In vitro tissue engineering requires that optimal conditions be arranged for their tissue-specific differentiation. MSCs naturally affect the regenerative and immunomodulatory activities at in vivo sites of injury. The latter functionality stimulated the name change to medicinal signaling cells and the important distinction that MSCs are not stem cells. This commentary emphasizes these differences. The impact should encourage continued research and clinical trials using mesenchymal stem cells.
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Arnold I. Caplan (2019) studied this question.
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