Glossary · regenerative medicine A–Z
Cell Homing
Migration or retention of cells in response to biological signals, studied mainly in experimental systems.
Why Cell Homing matters when choosing treatment
The capacity of injected cells to migrate toward damaged or inflamed tissue and settle there rather than elsewhere in the body. Homing relies on chemical gradients (chemokines) and cell-surface receptors; it's not automatic. Many clinics assume homing happens without measuring where cells actually go; in reality, most injected cells lodge in non-target organs (lungs, liver) or are cleared by the immune system. Ask clinics whether they've performed imaging (PET, MRI) or biodistribution studies showing cells reach the target site and persist there. Homing is real but inconsistent; honest clinics acknowledge this uncertainty.
Related terms & context
TeratomaAdvanced Therapy (ATMP)Informed ConsentMedical TourismMesenchymal Stromal Cell (MSC)ExosomeGMP (Good Manufacturing Practice)IRB / Ethics ApprovalAutologousAllogeneicMuse CellWharton's Jelly