Cell based therapies for ischemic stroke: From basic science to bedside

Abstract

Cell therapy is emerging as a viable therapy to restore neurological function after stroke. Many types of stem/progenitor cells from different sources have been explored for their feasibility and efficacy for the treatment of stroke. Transplanted cells not only have the potential to replace the lost circuitry, but also produce growth and trophic factors, or stimulate the release of such factors from host brain cells, thereby enhancing endogenous brain repair processes. Although stem/progenitor cells have shown a promising role in ischemic stroke in experimental studies as well as initial clinical pilot studies, cellular therapy is still at an early stage in humans. Many critical issues need to be addressed including the therapeutic time window, cell type selection, delivery route, and in vivo monitoring of their migration pattern. This review attempts to provide a comprehensive synopsis of preclinical evidence and clinical experience of various donor cell types, their restorative mechanisms, delivery routes, imaging strategies, future prospects and challenges for translating cell therapies as a neurorestorative regimen in clinical applications.

Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of MR Imaging Findings in Patients with Middle Cerebral Artery Stroke Implanted with Mesenchymal Stem Cells

“…This finding is encouraging because the therapeutic action of the implanted MSC is believed to be related to the secretion of trophic factors that would stimulate neuronal survival and differentiation of native stem cells. 33 Notably, this greater GLR after implantation trended toward a correlation with improved clinical findings in our patients, suggesting that the imaging findings may be used as a marker of clinical improvement that can assist in further clinical trials. Previous stroke studies have correlated the volume of diffusion abnormality 34 or the final infarct volume 35 with clinical outcomes after intervention with thrombolysis, and perhaps the GLR may serve as a similar predictor of clinical outcome after intervention with MSC.…”

Static Magnetic Field Effect on Differentiation in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

“…Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (HMSCs) that represent a mesoderm-derived population of progenitors, can easily be expanded in vitro and are also capable to differentiate and create cell lineages which exhibit the potential to repair or regenerate damaged tissues [30,31].…”

Review article: DOES INTRA-ARTERIAL HEPARIN FLUSHING (IAHF) CAN ACTUALLY INCREASE MANUAL MUSCLE TEST (MMT) SCORE IN CHRONIC ISCHEMIC STROKE PATIENTS?

“…Cell therapy is safe and feasible which may facilitate restoration of function in CIS (Bhasin et al 2012). Transplanted cells not only have the potential to replace the lost circuitry, but also produce growth and tropic factors, or stimulate the release of such factors from host brain cells, thereby enhancing endogenous brain repair processes (Liu et al 2014).…”