Disclosed herein are protocols, isolation means, and compositions of matter useful for identifying mesenchymal stem cells possessing enhanced clinical activity in treatment of autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Additionally, markers associated with said enhanced mesenchymal stem cell activity against autoimmunity can be utilized to identify donors whose mesenchymal stem cells possess superior efficacy compared to mesenchymal stem cells from donors who lack said markers associated with said enhanced efficacy in treatment of autoimmunity, such as RA.
