ABSTRACT
A key factor in the tissue engineering approach to tissue repair and regeneration is the use of appropriate cells. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are derived from bone marrow stroma or connective tissues and they have the potential to differentiate into various mesenchymal cell lines in vitro and in vivo. These cells hold great promise for musculoskeletal tissue engineering. This review is based mainly on the work which has been done in the National University of Singapore on the use of MSCs for engineering cartilage, growth plate, bone and tendon/ligament as well as the clinical trail of autologous chondrocyte implantation. It can help to shape future research on musculoskeletal tissue engineering.
Stem cells are cells which are capable of self-renewal and differentiation into various tissues, depending on the type of stem cells. Pluripotent embryonic stem cells are capable of differentiating into any tissue type, while adult stem cells are much more limited in their regenerative capability and are usually restricted to the tissues they reside in (liver hepatocytes and haemopoietic stem cells). Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), isolated from other cells in bone marrow via their propensity for adhering to the plastic walls of tissue culture containers, also display such multipotent characteristics. Under controlled conditions, these cells can differentiate into multi-mesenchymal lineage (such as osteoblast, chondrocyte and adipocyte) and myoblast lineages.1 Such cells are also easily obtained under culture from various sources, such as the periosteum, fat and skin,2 making them prime candidates for use in cell and gene therapy.
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