ABSTRACT
Adult stem cells possess self-renewal capacities which allow maintaining a reservoir of multipotent cells that differentiate to various types of cells or organs. Stem cells are essence for supporting tissue homeostasis and regeneration and here mesenchymal stem cells will be discussed. The mesenchymal stem cells function are supportive stroma in the bone marrow and also differentiate into lineage-specifi c pathways. The stroma component of bone marrow supports hematopoiesis and bone formation. During embryogenesis and post-natal development mesenchymal cells differentiate through unknown stages into several cell lineages, including osteoblasts, chondrocytes, hematopoietic-supportive fibroblasts, and adipocytes (Benayahu 2000; Benayahu et al. 1989, 2009; Friedenstein et al. 1978).
