Adult spinal cord ependymal layer: a promising pool of quiescent stem cells to treat spinal cord injury

Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a major health burden and currently there is no effective medical intervention. Research performed over the last decade revealed that cells surrounding the central canal of the adult spinal cord and forming the ependymal layer acquire stem cell properties either in vitro or in response to injury. Following SCI activated ependymal cells generate progeny cells which migrate to the injury site but fail to produce the appropriate type of cells in sufficient number to limit the damage, rendering this physiological response mainly ineffective. Research is now focusing on the manipulation of ependymal cells to produce cells of the oligodendrocyte lineage which are primarily lost in such a situation leading to secondary neuronal degeneration. Thus, there is a need for a more focused approach to understand the molecular properties of adult ependymal cells in greater detail and develop effective strategies for guiding their response during SCI.

Delayed Diagnosis of Enhancing Posterior Fossa Tumors Mimicking the Tela Choroidea of the Fourth Ventricle

“…Some studies showed that the same genes that are involved in neuronal development and differentiation may also be involved in congenital nystagmus (1). Other studies showed that the cells of the ependymal lining have stem cellelike properties (9). It is plausible that genetic alterations may lead to aberrant growth and tumor formation, in addition to neurologic signs or symptoms that may or may not be related to a tumor.…”

Valproic Acid Arrests Proliferation but Promotes Neuronal Differentiation of Adult Spinal NSPCs from SCI Rats

“…Recently, several studies have identified neural stem/ progenitor cells (NSPCs) in the adult mammalian spinal cord and revealed the potential of these endogenous NSPCs to mobilize and replace lost neurons after SCI [4][5][6]. Indeed, increasing evidence demonstrates that SCI elicits NSPCs proliferation in the ependymal region [7][8][9][10].…”

Stem Cell versus Cancer and Cancer Stem Cell: Intricate Balance Decides Their Respective Usefulness or Harmfulness in the Biological System

“…The stem cell is an essential component of a developmental phenomenon-one of the key components of a program fundamental to organogenesis and maintenance of homeostasis throughout life. For example, neuronal stem cells help in the formation of new neurons [23], adipose tissue stem cells help in the formation of adipocytes and release repair related growth factors [24], intestinal stem cells help in the replenishment of worn out or damaged intestinal cells [25]. Interestingly, ES cells, which are pluripotent in their nature [26] derived from the ICM of the blastocysts of a developing embryo, have even a much broader biological significance as compared to adult stem cells.…”