Abstract: The invention is based on a novel technology to identify inflammatory responsive elements (IREs) in a mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) culture that allowed for the development of biomarkers, in particular CD55, CD146, CD271 and MSCA-1, or combinations thereof. The biomarkers of the invention are indicative for an immunomodulatory activity of an MSC. Consequently, the present invention pertains a first aspect, to a method for determining a presence or absence of an immunomodulatory activity of a mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC). Furthermore, in a second aspect, a method for the manufacture of an immunomodulatory preparation derived from an MSC with immunomodulatory activity is disclosed. In a third and fourth aspect, the invention pertains to an immunomodulatory preparation derived from an MSC with immunomodulatory activity and its medical use.