Systematic neuronal and muscle induction systems in bone marrow stromal cells: the potential for tissue reconstruction in neurodegenerative and muscle degenerative diseases

Because bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs) are easily accessible from both healthy donors and patients and can be expanded on a therapeutic scale, they have attracted attention for cell-based therapy. Benefits of MSCs have been discussed mainly from two aspects: one is their tissue protective and immunomodulatory effects, and the other is their capability under specific manipulations to differentiate into various cell types. In this review, their differentiation into functional neural and muscle cell lineages is the focus, and their potential to the application for tissue reconstruction in neurodegenerative and muscle degenerative diseases is discussed.