Stem cell therapy for bone disorders

Stem cells of various origins have shown enormous potential to enhance bone repair and regeneration. From fracture healing to bone loss, including well- known medical conditions like osteoporosis, stem cells are being applied more and more frequently. Furthermore, they are being proposed for the treatment of genetic bone disorders with satisfactory outcomes. However, key questions remain on the type of cell to use, and the isolation and expansion protocols to select. Moreover, the in vitro modification of the cells to induce a specific phenotype, enabling regeneration of new bone is being matter of extensive research. In that respect, a possibility also exists for the enhancement of vascularization during bone regeneration events by using coculture systems or endothelial-based cell therapies. It is our intention in this chapter, to bring to the reader an update on the use of stem cells to treat bone disorders. In light of that, important concepts and definitions will be presented, as well as some examples of relevant findings. Finally, clinical trials on this topic will be discussed.