CD44 and hyaluronan help mesenchymal stem cells move to a neighborhood in need of regeneration

Abstract

Prevention of normal interactions between CD44 cell-surface receptors on cultured mesenchymal stem cells and hyaluronic acid in the renal interstitial matrix has been described as reducing the ability of these cells in vivo to localize to regions with acute tubular injury. Understanding processes such as this might one day help us to target exogenous cells to assist renal regeneration.