A method is described for using live mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in a way which allows for identification of patients likely to respond to immunosuppressive treatment using MSCs. The method involves contacting a sample from said patient with live MSCs in vitro, and determining whether the sample is able to induce at least some apoptosis to occur in live MSCs in vitro, or detection of elevated levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). The ability of the sample to induce said apoptosis and/or elevated levels of PGE2 is indicative of responsiveness of said patient to said immunosuppressive treatment and/or indicative of fitness to recover. Also provided are apoptotic MSCs for use in the treatment of immune- mediated disease or conditions, such as allo-immune or autoimmune disease, or for the prevention or treatment of rejection of a transplanted organ； or in regenerative medicine to stimulate tissue repair. Methods for preparing pharmaceutical compositions comprising the apoptotic MSCs are also described and claimed.
