Regenerative medicine using mesenchymal stem cells for the purposes of tissue repair has garnered considerable
public attention due to the potential of returning tissues and organs to a normal, healthy state after injury or damage
has occurred. To achieve this, progenitor cells such as pericytes and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal
stem cells can be delivered exogenously, mobilised and recruited from within the body or transplanted in the
form organs and tissues grown in the laboratory from stem cells. In this review, we summarise the recent evidence
supporting the use of endogenously mobilised stem cell populations to enhance tissue repair along with
the use of mesenchymal stem cells and pericytes in the development of engineered tissues. Finally, we conclude
with an overview of currently available therapeutic options to manipulate endogenous stem cells to promote
tissue repair.