Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Home via the PI3K-Akt, MAPK, and Jak/Stat Signaling Pathways in Response to Platelet-Derived Growth Factor.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have great potential to improve clinical outcomes for many inflammatory and degenerative diseases either through intravenously delivered MSCs or through mobilization and migration of endogenous MSCs to injury sites, termed "stem cell homing." Stem cell homing involves the processes of attachment to and transmigration through endothelial cells lining the vasculature and migration through the tissue stroma to a site of injury or inflammation. Although the process of leukocyte transendothelial migration (TEM) is well understood, far less is known about stem cell homing.