Concise Review: Human Pluripotent Stem Cells in the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in neural loss and consequently motor and sensory impairment below the injury. There are currently no effective therapies for the treatment of traumatic SCI in humans. Different kinds of cells including embryonic, fetal, and adult stem cells have been transplanted into animal models of SCI resulting in sensorimotor benefits. Transplantation of human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-or induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neural cells is nowadays a promising therapy for SCI. This review updates the recent progress in preclinical studies and discusses the advantages and flaws of various neural cell types derived from hESCs and hiPSCs. Before introducing the stem cell replacement strategies in clinical practice, this complex field needs to advance significantly in understanding the lesion itself, the animal model adequacy, and improve cell replacement source. This knowledge will contribute to the successful translation from animals to humans and lead to established guidelines for rigorous safety screening in order to be implemented in clinical practice.

Gene Profiling of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Astrocyte Progenitors Following Spinal Cord Engraftment

“…Various stem cell sources have been evaluated for brain and/or spinal cord engraftment studies, including human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), mesenchymal stem cells, fetally derived neural stem cells, and more recently human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) [1][2][3][4]. Human iPSCs were initially reprogrammed from adult human fibroblasts and have been shown to be capable of differentiating into neural-specific cell lineages [5].…”

Effect of kidney-reinforcing and marrow-beneficial Chinese medicine on bone metabolism-related factors following spinal cord injury in rats

“…Characteristics of hind limb motor function were assessed in accordance with the BBB scale (15)(16)(17). At 1, 3, 5 and 7 days following the operation, the BBB scores of the SCI model and SCI + KRMB groups were significantly decreased compared with the normal group (P<0.01), suggesting that the SCI model was duplicated successfully.…”

Stem Cells: New Hope For Spinal Cord Injury

“…Engrafted MSCs act as neuroprotectors by secreting brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glia cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), Patient-specific iPSCs derived from somatic cells through the ectopic expression of a defined set of factors do not present ethical and immnunological concerns (11). The primary concern about the use of these cells in clinical trials was with the reprogramming technology that involved viral vectors and their tumourigenicity (2). Some of the reprogramming issues are solved by the deriving iPSCs bythrough nonviral methods such as mRNA or chemicals and small molecules (12,13).…”

“…Epidemiological data show that the incidence of traumatic SCI in the US ranges from 27 to 83 per million while in Europe it is approximately 10-30 new cases per million (1). SCI usually results in sudden and long-lasting locomotor and sensory neuron degeneration below the injury (2).…”

“…During the secondary phase of injury, further tissue damage occurs mostly from ischemia, electrolyte imbalance, inflammatory response, oxidative stress and excitotoxicity (3). Despite major advances in the medical and surgical care of SCI patients, there are currently no effective therapies for the treatment of traumatic SCI in humans (2). Stem cell therapy offers several attractive strategies for spinal cord repair.…”