Purpose

This purpose of this experiment is to identify the stem cell subset that can best respond to an inflammatory environment that mirrors the post-injury environment in vivo. Stem cells have use in injury therapy through the regeneration of injured tissue. By identifying the specific stem cells in the body that can responding to inflammation, this subset of cells can be applied injury procedures to increase the efficacy of stem cell use.

On the left is a micrscope image of stem cells prior to differentiation. The image on the right is the cross section of a stem cell that has developed into a chondrocyte.