Fig. 2.

Schematic diagram of autologous, MSC-based tissue-engineering therapy for total joint replacement. MSC, mesenchymal stem cells. Progenitor cells such as MSCs are isolated from the bone marrow or other connective sources such as adipose tissue, culture-expanded, and/or differentiated ex vivo toward chondrocytes and osteoblasts. Cells are seeded in biocompatible materials shaped into the anatomical structures of the synovial joint condyle and implanted in vivo. Preliminary proof of concept studies have been reported (Alhadlaq and Mao, 2003, 2005; Alhadlaq et al., 2004; Mao, 2005).