Multipotent mesenchymal stem / stromal cells (MMSCs) of different origin are the novel therapeutic agents that can slow down cartilage degeneration, improve reparation and ultimately prevent joint prosthetics. MSCs are capable to direct differentiation into chondrocytes, produce cytokines and growth factors with immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects, stimulate angiogenesis, as well as induce chemotaxis of endogenous progenitors. Bone marrow-derived and placenta-derived MMSCs can be considered the most promising source for cell therapy of joints disorders according to availability, safety and expected therapeutic efficacy.
To define the clinical effects of intra-articular transplantation of bone-marrow-derived (BM-MMSCs) and placenta-derived multipotent mesenchymal stem / stromal cells (P-MMSCs) for knee osteoarthritis.