Mesenchymal stem cells and cell therapy for bone repair.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) represent a new therapeutic paradigm for a number of diseases because they possess unique biological characteristics such as multipotency, immunomodulation and production of cytokines. Currently, 425 MSC based clinical trials have been conducted for at least 12 kinds of pathological conditions, with many completed trials demonstrating the safety and efficacy of MSCs. Here, we provide an overview of the clinical status of MSCs by searching the public clinical trials database http://clinicaltrials.gov. Particularly, the role of MSCs in clinical trials to treat bone defects and injuries is highlighted.