[Bone regeneration and Mesenchymal stem cells]

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells have been considered to differentiate into cells in bone, cartilage, tendon, muscle, and fat. Further analyses revealed that these cell also give rise to myocardial cells, oval cells and nerve cells, indicating high plasticity of these cells. Recent researches have been focused to utilize these cells to regenerate not only bone but also the life-maintaining major organs. As a cell source for the future regeneration of multiple organs, regeneration of the bone marrow is critical and thus studies on the process of bone marrow regeneration will benefit not only bone physiology field alone but also that of many other organs.