title: Potential use of mesenchymal stem cells in human meniscal repair: current insights.
abstract: The menisci of the human knee play an important role in maintaining normal functions to provide stability and nutrition to the articular cartilage, and to absorb shock. Once injured, these important structures have very limited natural healing potential. Unfortunately, the traditional arthroscopic meniscectomy performed on these damaged menisci may predispose the joint toward early development of osteoarthritis. Although a very limited number of studies are available, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been investigated as an alternative therapeutic modality to repair human knee meniscal tears. This review summarizes the results of published applications of MSCs in human patients, which showed that the patients who received MSCs (autologous adipose tissue-derived stem cells or culture-expanded bone marrow-derived stem cells) presented symptomatic improvements, along with magnetic resonance imaging evidences of the meniscal repair.
authors.affiliation: Stems Medical Clinic, Gangnamgu, Seoul, Republic of Korea; TEDA-Puhua International Hospital, Tianjin, People's Republic of China; Life Science Institute, Komplek Permata Senayan, Jalan Tentara Pelajar, Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Jaewoo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pak
authors.affiliation: Stems Medical Clinic, Gangnamgu, Seoul, Republic of Korea; National Leading Research Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Myongji University, Yongin, Gyeonggido, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Hun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: National Leading Research Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Myongji University, Yongin, Gyeonggido, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang Seung
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: National Leading Research Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Myongji University, Yongin, Gyeonggido, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: National Leading Research Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Myongji University, Yongin, Gyeonggido, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: adipose tissue-derived stem cells; articular cartilage; bone marrow-derived stem cells; human knee; meniscal tear; therapeutic modality