41stem cell therapy for degenerative diseases. However, the immune modulation
capacity of MSCs has been the subject of recent interest over the past several years.
The fi rst MSC drug, Prochymal produced by Osiris Therapeutics, was approved in
2012 and is used for immune modulation in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)
treatment (Fig. 2.2 ).
2.2.1 Tissue Regeneration
MSCs were shown to have differentiation potential into mesenchymal cells as well as
endoderm and ectoderm cells. Based on this capacity, MSCs were considered as a suit-
able cell source for tissue regeneration from the bone, cartilage, adipose tissue, heart,
Fig. 2.2 Some mechanisms of MSCs in therapeutic application. MSCs are multipotent stem cells;
therefore, they can differentiate into some specifi c cells that can replace some injured cells/dam-
aged adult cells. In another strategy, MSCs can modulate the immune response via some
cytokines
2 Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Clinical Applications