Mesenchymal Stem Cells as Gene Delivery Vehicles

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess a battery of unique properties which make them ideally suited not only for cellular therapies/regenerative medicine, but also as vehicles for gene delivery in a wide array of clinical settings. These include: 1) widespread distribution throughout the body; 2) ease of isolation and ability to be extensively expanded in culture without loss of potential; 3) the ability to differentiate into a wide array of functional cell types in vitro and in vivo; 4) they exert pronounced anti-inflammatory and immunomodula‐ tory effects upon transplantation; and 5) the ability to home to damaged tissues, solid tu‐ mors, and metastases following in vivo administration.