Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Bone and Cartilage Regeneration

Abstract

Most damage to bone and cartilage, as well as bone and cartilage diseases, is curable by routine medical procedures. However, some are either incurable or difficult to cure. Often these damages or diseases result in large-scale tissue loss. Treatment of these conditions is the subject of regenerative medicine. One valuable regenerative medicine tool is stem cell-based therapy. The use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in bone and cartilage regeneration is the subject of the present chapter, which is organized into three main parts. First, bone and cartilage structure, their repair capacity, and current therapy will be briefly described. In the second section, the main features of MSCs that render them appropriate cell candidates for bone and cartilage regeneration will be discussed, followed by a brief description of scaffolds and growth factors that may accompany MSCs in order to enhance their regenerative effects. Finally, in the third section, some examples of the application of MSCs in bone and cartilage regeneration will be explained.