The Eph (erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular carcinoma) receptors and their cell surface anchored ligands, the Ephrins, comprise the largest of the receptor tyrosine kinases families with 14 receptors and 8 ligands. The receptors are subdivided into Eph-A and Eph-B categories and have known actions in the development of the vascular and nervous system. The present invention relates to an isolated mesenchymal stem cell selected from the group consisting of an isolated mesenchymal stem cell that expresses Ephrin-B2, an isolated mesenchymal stem cell that over-expresses Ephrin-B2, and an isolated mesenchymal stem cell that is genetically modified to increase Ephrin-B2 expression. The invention further relates to the various applications of the isolated mesenchymal stem cells of the present invention.