Mechanism of stem cells in the central nervous system

Abstract

Injury to the central nervous system (CNS) can result in severe functional impairment. The brain and spinal cord, which constitute the CNS, have been viewed for decades as having a very limited capacity for regeneration. However, over the last several years, the body of evidence supporting the concept of regeneration and continuous renewal of neurons in specific regions of the CNS has increased. This evidence has significantly altered our perception of the CNS and has offered new hope for possible cell therapy strategies to repair lost function. Transplantation of stem cells or the recruitment of endogenous stem cells to repair specific regions of the brain or spinal cord is the next exciting research challenge. However, our understanding of the existing stem cell pool in the adult CNS remains limited. This review will discuss the identification and characterization of CNS stem cells in the adult brain and spinal cord.

Bone Marrow Stromal Cells for Repair of the Spinal Cord: Towards Clinical Application

“…Recently, it has become clear that the determined stem cell is in fact Stem cells are defined by their capacity for selfrenewal and differentiation into different cell types (87, phenotypically plastic and is able to give rise to cells from different germ layers, a process known as transdif-89,94). In the early embryonic phase, stem cells are totipotent but after a few divisions the cells are determined ferentation (10, 45,66,67,71). Because of their versatility, stem cells have gained to become specific for one of the three germ layers: the ectodermal layer, which will give rise to skin and neural ample attention over the last years for their potential in replacement/repair approaches.…”

Tissue engineering: the current status of this futuristic modality in head neck reconstruction

“…Thus, regenerative approaches using stem cells have focused more on adult stem cells. Adult stem cells have been found in a variety of tissues such as bone marrow, skeletal muscle [20], adipose [21], central nervous system [22], lung, and inner ear [23]. These cells can be targeted in their native environment or isolated, manipulated ex vivo, and transplanted.…”

Bone Marrow Stromal Cells for Repair of the Injured Spinal Cord

“…As the cell mass develops, the daughter cells begin to acquire properties different from one another, so that different regions destined to become different components of the embryo are formed. Recently, it has been suggested that the determined stem cell is in fact phenotypically plastic and is able to give rise to cells from different germ layers, a process known as transdifferentiation (Morrison et al, 1997;Johansson et al, 2003). The process of transdifferentiation can also result in the formation of abnormal phenotypes having no counterpart in the normal body (dysplasia).…”