A possible new focus for stroke treatment – migrating stem cells

Abstract

Introduction Stroke is a leading cause of mortality in the US. More so, its infliction often leaves patients with lasting morbidity and deficits. Ischemic stroke comprises nearly 90% of incidents and the majority of medical treatment aims at reestablishing perfusion and preventing recurrence. Areas covered Long-term options for neurorestoration are limited by the infancy of their innovative approach. Accumulating evidence suggests the therapeutic potential of stem cells in neurorestoration, however, proper stem cell migration remains a challenge in translating stem cell therapy from the laboratory to the clinic. In this paper, we propose the role that exogenous stem cell transplantation may serve in facilitating the migration of endogenous stem cells to the site of injury, an idea termed ‘biobridge’. Expert opinion Recent research in the field of traumatic brain injury has provided a foundational understanding that, through the use of exogenous stem cells, native tissue architecture may be manipulated by proteinases to allow better communication between the endogenous sites of neural stem cells and the regions of injury. There is still much to be learned about these mechanisms, though it is the devastating nature of stroke that necessitates continued research into the prospective therapeutic potential of this novel approach.

Stem cell therapy for abrogating stroke-induced neuroinflammation and relevant secondary cell death mechanisms

“…The mobilization of HSCs can also be induced by neurotransmitters, namely catecholamine, which can either directly signal the bone marrow through a nerve ending paracrine signal or by sympathetic release into open circulation (Saba et al, 2013). Human histological data for patients with acute stroke agrees with this pattern of mobilization, revealing an increase in the levels of peripheral blood immature hematopoietic CD34+ cells, colony-forming cells, and long-term culture-initiating cells after cerebral insult (Sullivan et al, 2015). Notably, the extent of mobilization appears to correlate with the extent of functional recovery (Dunac et al, 2007).…”

Stem cells as a promising therapeutic approach for Alzheimer’s disease: a review

“…Therefore, stem cell transplantation could represent a promising and safe approach to treat AD, as it affects this disease through multiple mechanisms that result in re-building the neural integrity and improving the neurocognitive function (Fang et al 2018;Lee et al 2016;Choi et al 2014a). However, it has been suggested that engrafted stem cells are not the sole source of the newly generated neurons (Sullivan et al 2015;Zhang et al 2013). Hence, rather than using the cell-replacement model in AD, activation of endogenous NPCs and stimulation of neurogenesis could improve the microenvironment, support neuroregeneration, and enhance the survival of injured neurons (Lunn et al 2011), and prevent secondary neuronal damage, through the neurotrophic support (Burns et al 2009).…”

Translating G-CSF as an Adjunct Therapy to Stem Cell Transplantation for Stroke

“…An important goal for future research is to determine whether this approach will also facilitate graft–host integration and promote reconstruction of synaptic circuitry [89], and to prove that these events correlate with functional recovery. So far, circuit integration of newly formed cells remains to be proven as an important mechanism of repair of stem cell transplantation in stroke and in other neurological disorders [for review see 90]. …”