Pretreating human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with a small molecule called Ro-31-8425, researchers can increase the expression of the surface receptor CD11a to improve the cells’ ability to target to inflamed tissue, according to a recent study. Such improved homing of MSCs could improve the efficacy of the more than 400 MSC-based treatments currently in clinical trials. Jeffrey Karp, associate professor of medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, is senior author; Charles Lin associate professor of dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital, is a co-author.
