Fig. 2

MSC-based therapy with pharmacological modification of endogenous MSCs. In a conventional approach, MSCs are isolated from donors, culture-expanded ex vivo, and then infused into recipients, mainly intravenously. This intervention is a “quantity”-based strategy to achieve the therapeutic effects of MSCs (left panel). We have proposed a strategy in which pharmacological treatment activates or modifies the functions of endogenous MSCs. This intervention is a “quality”-based strategy to achieve the therapeutic effects of MSCs (right panel)