To view a copy of this license, visit <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/This">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/This</a> article has been cited by other articles in PMC.AbstractMesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are partially defined by their ability to differentiate into tissues including bone, cartilage and adipose in vitro, but it is their trophic, paracrine and immunomodulatory functions that may have the greatest therapeutic impact