[Regenerative potential of human adult precursor cells: cell therapy--an option for treating cartilage defects?].

Cell-based therapeutical approaches are already in clinical use and are attracting growing interest for the treatment of joint defects. Mesenchymal stem and precursor cells (MSC) cover a wide range of properties that are useful for the regeneration process of bone and cartilage defects. The following article is an overview of the regenerative potential of MSC and discusses how the properties of these cells can be used for the development of new strategies in regenerative medicine.