Synovial mesenchymal stem cells in vivo: Potential key players for joint regeneration

Figure 2 Schematic of the potential involvement of synovial mesenchymal stem cells in cartilage and meniscal repair following injury. Left: Normal joint, only few mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) escape into the fluid; Right: Cartilage/meniscal injury leads to MSC to egress into fluid and to traffic along chemotactic gradients emanating from injury-induced signaling centers. Proposed topographical niches of synovial MSCs are shown in the inserts and include synovial lining and perivascular distribution in sublining regions.