Current perspectives in stem cell therapy for spinal cord repair in humans: a review of work from the past 10 years

Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) and amyotrophic laterals sclerosis (ALS) are devastating neurological conditions that affect individuals worldwide, significantly reducing quality of life, both for patients and their relatives. Objective: The present review aims to summarize the multiple restorative approaches being developed for spinal cord repair, the use of different stem cell types and the current knowledge regarding stem cell therapy. Method: Review of the literature from the past 10 years of human studies using stem cell transplantation as the main therapy, with or without adjuvant therapies. Conclusion: The current review offers an overview of the state of the art regarding spinal cord restoration, and serves as a starting point for future studies.Keywords: spinal cord injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, stem cells, stem cell therapy. RESUMOLesão medular (LM) e esclerose lateral amiotrófica (ELA) são condições devastadoras que acometem pessoas em todo o mundo, reduzindo a qualidade de vida tanto de pacientes como de entes queridos. Objetivo: A atual revisão tem como alvo as múltiplas abordagens restauradoras para a regeneração medular, o uso de diferentes tipos celulares e o atual conhecimento a cerca da terapia com células tronco. Método: Revisão de literatura dos últimos 10 anos usando transplantes de células tronco como estratégia principal, com ou sem terapia adjuvante, em humanos. Conclusão: A presente revisão oferece uma visão geral acerca da restauração medular e serve de ponto de partida para estudos futuros.Palavras-chave: lesão medular, esclerose lateral amiotrófica, células tronco, terapia com células tronco.

Current Concept of Stem Cell Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury: A Review

“…The neurogenesis continues to take place in distal part of olfactory nerve and OEC can be obtained from olfactory mucosa,41) which surround the axons of the olfactory neuron. Moreover, OECs have the ability to differentiate into non-olfactory cell types and can be good candidates for stem cell therapy.…”

Further insight into molecular mechanism underlying thoracic spinal cord injury using bioinformatics methods

“…Recent advances in neuroscience research have provided novel insight into the rehabilitation of patients with SCI. A number of rehabilitative, cellular and molecular therapies have been tested, using animal models and clinical trials ( 3 , 6 ).…”

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - Cell Based Therapy and Novel Therapeutic Development

“…One involves mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC), such as bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSC), adipocyte stem cells (ASC), bone marrow mobilized CD133+ hematopoietic stem cell (HSC), and CD34+ progenitor from umbilical cord blood cells (CB) [2, 6, 7]. The other involves neural tissue origin neural stem cells, such as fetal origin spinal cord and olfactory ensheathing glial cells (OEC) [6, 8, 9]. There are ongoing debates over which origin of transplant cell has regenerative potential [2, 6, 7].…”

“…The other involves neural tissue origin neural stem cells, such as fetal origin spinal cord and olfactory ensheathing glial cells (OEC) [6, 8, 9]. There are ongoing debates over which origin of transplant cell has regenerative potential [2, 6, 7]. …”