In recent Sears, there has been an increasing interest in non-hematopoietic
pluripotent progenitor cells that are found in the bone marrow. Mesenchyma
l stem cells (MSCs) are the first non-hematopoietic progenitors to be isola
ted from the bone marrow and extensively characterized. In addition to thei
r ability to support hematopoiesis, MSCs can differentiate into osteocytes,
chondrocytes, tenocytes, adipocytes and smooth muscle cells, This article
will review our current understanding of bone marrow stroma and MSCs and th
eir potential therapeutic role in the setting of hematopoietic stem cell tr
ansplantation.