There are three main propositioned mechanisms of action for tissue repair. These properties make them ideal for the treatment of arthritis, tendon, muscle, and ligament injuries.

Cellular communication: the cell produces signal to nearby cells which promotes changes and can alter the behavior of the cells in the injected area.

Engraftment: when the body accepts the transplanted cells and begins to produce new cells.

Immune system activation: changes in the body’s immune system can activate essential growth factors to facilitate tissue repair while also suppressing non favorable inflammatory processes.

• • The current research supports that mesenchymal stem cells promote cellular growth and enhance immunomodulatory factors that activate and manage the body’s distinctive healing response.
  •  The microenvironment of a joint, tendon, or any soft tissue will respond to stem cells. Meaningful change is based on a signaling response to alter the disease and/or heal the injury during early stages of disease such as arthritis or tendinitis for example. During later stages of a musculoskeletal disease like end-stage arthritis or complete/retracted tendon tears, stem cells may only help with pain and inflammation but will not restore joint space, grow cartilage, or repair the already extensively damaged tissue.