Stem cells: a promising candidate to treat neurological disorders

Abstract

Neurologic impairments are usually irreversible as a result of limited regeneration in the central nervous system. Therefore, based on the regenerative capacity of stem cells, transplantation therapies of various stem cells have been tested in basic research and preclinical trials, and some have shown great prospects. This manuscript overviews the cellular and molecular characteristics of embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, neural stem cells, retinal stem/progenitor cells, mesenchymal stem/stromal cells, and their derivatives in vivo and in vitro as sources for regenerative therapy. These cells have all been considered as candidates to treat several major neurological disorders and diseases, owing to their self-renewal capacity, multi-directional differentiation, neurotrophic properties, and immune modulation effects. We also review representative basic research and recent clinical trials using stem cells for neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and age-related macular degeneration, as well as traumatic brain injury and glioblastoma. In spite of a few unsuccessful cases, risks of tumorigenicity, and ethical concerns, most results of animal experiments and clinical trials demonstrate efficacious therapeutic effects of stem cells in the treatment of nervous system disease. In summary, these emerging findings in regenerative medicine are likely to contribute to breakthroughs in the treatment of neurological disorders. Thus, stem cells are a promising candidate for the treatment of nervous system diseases.

Neurons from human mesenchymal stem cells display both spontaneous and stimuli responsive activity

“…MSCs are studied for central nervous system and peripheral nervous system repairments [9]. For instance, differentiated functional neurons from MSCs were used in the studies targeting neurodegenerative diseases [10,11].…”

Stem cell therapy in autism: recent insights

“…Neurologic diseases are usually irreversible as a result of slow and limited neurogenesis in the brain. 23 Therefore, based on the regenerative capacity of stem cells, transplantation therapies of various stem cells have been tested in basic research with animal models, and preclinical and clinical trials, and many have shown great prospects and therapeutic promises. 23 Comparative studies have been raised to understand nature, properties, and number of donor stem cells, the delivery mode, and the selection of proper patient populations that may benefit from cell-based therapies.…”

Controlling the Switch from Neurogenesis to Pluripotency during Marmoset Monkey Somatic Cell Reprogramming with Self-Replicating mRNAs and Small Molecules

“…Despite significant advances in modern medicine, many diseases that increase the mortality or cause disabilities in the world's human population currently remain incurable. Due to their properties that allow them to be expanded indefinitely in vitro and to be differentiated into various somatic cell types, pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) hold significant potential for the development of cell-based therapies for a wide range of conditions, such as various neurodegenerative disorders, cancers, cardiac, and autoimmune diseases [1][2][3][4]. Moreover, the reprogramming of somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) [5,6] has revealed an enormous potential for the development of personalized cell therapies, as autologous stem cells may minimize immunological incompatibilities while circumventing the ethical dilemmas associated with using embryo-derived stem cells (ESCs).…”