Genetically Modified Mesenchymal Stem Cells: The Next Generation of Stem Cell-Based Therapy for TBI

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are emerging as an attractive approach for restorative medicine in central nervous system (CNS) diseases and injuries, such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), due to their relatively easy derivation and therapeutic effect following transplantation. However, the long-term survival of the grafted cells and therapeutic efficacy need improvement. Here, we review the recent application of MSCs in TBI treatment in preclinical models. We discuss the genetic modification approaches designed to enhance the therapeutic potency of MSCs for TBI treatment by improving their survival after transplantation, enhancing their homing abilities and overexpressing neuroprotective and neuroregenerative factors. We highlight the latest preclinical studies that have used genetically modified MSCs for TBI treatment. The recent developments in MSCs’ biology and potential TBI therapeutic targets may sufficiently improve the genetic modification strategies for MSCs, potentially bringing effective MSC-based therapies for TBI treatment in humans.

Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy: A Potential Treatment Targeting Pathological Manifestations of Traumatic Brain Injury

“…Neuroinflammation is associated with secondary TBI injury [ 90 ]. TBI leads to neuronal damage and damages the integrity of the BBB.…”

The Neuroprotection Effects of Exosome in Central Nervous System Injuries: a New Target for Therapeutic Intervention

“…Depending on different parameters such as tissue source, isolation method and medium composition, the role of MSCs are different [32]. MSCs have been an attractive choice for experimental and clinical application because of their relatively simple procedure for cell isolation, self-renewal and capable of differentiating into diverse cell lineages under speci c culture conditions [33,34]. Moreover, MSCs can secrete high levels of proteins, cytokines and immune-receptors that functions in immunoregulation, revascularization, cutaneous wound healing, angiogenesis and tissue regeneration [35].…”

Discoveries of the specific expression of lncRNAs and mRNAs in hippocampus of rats after traumatic brain injury

“…The gene is also involved in cell growth, neuronal death, and regulation of cell growth (Qiu J, et al, 2020). Due to the multifactorial and heterogeneous nature of traumatic brain injury, it presents distinct manifestations in different sites and at different time points, and the single-target therapy for traumatic brain injury is ineffective (Shahror RA, et al, 2020). Thus, an ideal therapeutic strategy should be the simultaneous responding of multiple targeths.…”