[Differentiation potential of stem cells from bone marrow].

Hematopoietic organs such as bone marrow contain various stem and progenitor cells with a differentiation capability exceeding hematopoiesis, a process also referred to as plasticity. Stem cells in bone marrow are hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, and multipotent progenitor cells. Several examples for the development of stem cells of hematopoietic organs into nonhematopoietic tissue open novel ways in regenerative medicine. Animal experiments showed generation of neuronal tissue, cardiomyocytes and functional hepatocytes in injured tissue from bone marrow stem cells. Interpreting these results one has to keep in mind that besides transdifferentiation also cell fusion or heterogeneous stem cell populations might contribute to tissue regeneration. First clinical studies on therapy with bone marrow stem cells in myocardial infarction or liver embolization showed promising results.