Neural stem cell therapy for stroke: A multimechanistic approach to restoring neurological function

Abstract

Introduction Neural stem cells (NSCs) have demonstrated multimodal therapeutic function for stroke, which is the leading cause of long‐term disability and the second leading cause of death worldwide. In preclinical stroke models, NSCs have been shown to modulate inflammation, foster neuroplasticity and neural reorganization, promote angiogenesis, and act as a cellular replacement by differentiating into mature neural cell types. However, there are several key technical questions to address before NSC therapy can be applied to the clinical setting on a large scale. Purpose of Review In this review, we will discuss the various sources of NSCs, their therapeutic modes of action to enhance stroke recovery, and considerations for the clinical translation of NSC therapies. Understanding the key factors involved in NSC‐mediated tissue recovery and addressing the current translational barriers may lead to clinical success of NSC therapy and a first‐in‐class restorative therapy for stroke patients.

Activity in grafted human iPS cell–derived cortical neurons integrated in stroke-injured rat brain regulates motor behavior

“…Thus, the reversal of the stroke-induced deficit in the cylinder test was not due to neuronal activity in the graft. Our finding is in accordance with the bulk of experimental evidence indicating that intracerebral transplantation of stem cells can lead to behavioral improvements by nonneuronal mechanisms operating early after stroke (1,29,30).…”

“…stroke | iPS cells | cerebral cortex | transplantation | optogenetics B ased on findings in experimental models, stem cell transplantation has been proposed as a potential novel treatment for stroke (1). Clinical trials have been initiated using intracerebral delivery of, e.g., human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (2) or multipotent adult progenitor cells (3) and a human neural stem cell line (4).…”

Zerumbone promotes proliferation of endogenous neural stem cells in vascular dementia by regulating Notch signalling

“…## p < 0.01 compared to the sham group; **p < 0.01 compared to the VD group. Reported studies reveal that the drug used for the management of Alzheimer's disease attenuates the cognitive function [1,12]. Data of this study suggest that zerumbone treatment ameliorates the learning and memory of the brain function and also significantly reduces the neurological function score compared to the VD group of rats.…”

Human embryonic derived neural progenitor cells improves neurological scores following brain ischemia/ reperfusion: Modulation of blood and brain tissue MicroRNA-210

“…7 On the other hand, they induce angiogenesis and neurogenesis, decrease the neuroinflammation, and preserve the integrity of blood-brain barrier through bystander effects. 8 Following the ES-NPCs injection, the size of ischemic area reduced and the sensory-motor function improved. The histological investigation also revealed positive findings in favor of neural tissue repair.…”