Intravascular cell replacement therapy for stroke

Abstract

<jats:p>✓ The use of stem cell transplantation to restore neurological function after stroke is being recognized as a potential novel therapy. Before stem cell transplantation can become widely applicable, however, questions remain about the optimal site of delivery and timing of transplantation. In particular, there seems to be increasing evidence that intravascular cell delivery after stroke is a viable alternative to intracerebral transplantation. In this review, the authors focus on the intravascular delivery of stem cells for stroke treatment with an emphasis on timing, transendothelial migration and possible mechanisms leading to neuroprotection, angiogenesis, immunomodulation, and neural plasticity. They also review current concepts of in vivo imaging and tracking of stem cells after stroke.</jats:p>

Transduction of Neural Precursor Cells with TAT-Heat Shock Protein 70 Chaperone: Therapeutic Potential Against Ischemic Stroke after Intrastriatal and Systemic Transplantation

“…On the other hand, systemic transplantation of NPCs mediates acute neuroprotection from the luminal side of the vessels for which high intracerebral cell numbers seem to be not necessary. This observation is in line with previous reports where systemic transplantation of stem and precursor cells initiated beneficial effects despite low cell numbers or even no detectable cells within the ischemic brain [60][61][62][63].…”

Stem cell therapy in stroke treatment: is it a viable option?

“…Different types of cell therapies have been shown to express anti-inflammatory cytokines, which may reduce secondary damage due to poststroke inf lammation [12]. Some types of cell …”

Toward a More Effective Intravascular Cell Therapy in Stroke

“…Systemic introduction should, however, be the ultimate goal for cell therapy, enabling rapid off-the-shelf therapy in any clinic and this would also allow less invasive treatments. Both stereotactic transplantation of cells into the brain and systemic delivery have been applied in experimental stroke (Guzman et al, 2008;Hicks & Jolkkonen, 2009). Given that stroke often produces large ischemic damage, it is not known whether a targeted approach can provide efficient and extensive cell engraftment, even with the aid of anatomical and functional imaging to explore the location of cell transplantation.…”