Editorial: potential application of mesenchymal stem cells in craniofacial reconstruction.

Numerous studies have been reported about the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into almost every cell type found in craniofacial tissues, such as bone, cartilage, tendon, ligament, muscle etc. Using MSCs as a cell source to engineer craniofacial tissue is becoming feasible. Some effects have been made to bridge the fundamental science and clinical application. Meanwhile, novel functions of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) have been reported recently. MSCs are found not only differentiated into specific cell type, but also play a role as trophic mediator to support the proliferation of neighboring cells after transplantation. In this issue, we focus on the biology of mesenchymal stem cells and their possible application in craniofacial reconstruction, with the hope of bringing new insights into regenerative medicine of craniofacial tissues.