title: The meaning, the sense and the significance: translating the science of mesenchymal stem cells into medicine.
abstract: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are the focus of intensive efforts worldwide directed not only at elucidating their nature and unique properties but also developing cell-based therapies for a diverse range of diseases. More than three decades have passed since the original formulation of the concept, revolutionary at the time, that multiple connective tissues could emanate from a common progenitor or stem cell retained in the postnatal bone marrow. Despite the many important advances made since that time, substantial ambiguities still plague the field regarding the nature, identity, function, mode of isolation and experimental handling of MSCs. These uncertainties have a major impact on their envisioned therapeutic use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, La Sapienza Universita' di Roma, Rome, Italy. paolo.bianco@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Frenette
authors.forename: Jeremy J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Pamela G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Robey
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.forename: Cun-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008565:Membrane Proteins