A mini-review: the therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells and relevant signaling factors.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), with its capacity of multi-directional differentiation, low immunogenicity and high portability, which made BMSCs serve as ideal "seed cells" in ophthalmological disease therapy. Therefore, in this mini-review we examined recent literature concerning the potential application of MSCs for the treatment of ophthalmological disease, which including : activity of transplanted cells, migration and homing of MSCs, immuno-modulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of MSCs and signaling involved. Each aspect is complementary to the others and together these aspects promoted further understanding for the potential use of MSCs in treating ophthalmological diseases.