Title:Neuro-regeneration or Repair: Cell Therapy of Neurological Disorders as A Way Forward
Volume: 22
Issue: 14
Author(s): Xiao-Yan Song, Cun-xiu Fan, Atta-ur-Rahman, Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary and Xiao-Ping Wang*
Affiliation:
- Department of Neurology, Jiading Branch of Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University,
School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
Keywords:
Cell therapy, stem cells, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Wilson’s disease, stroke, traumatic brain injury.
Abstract: The human central nervous system (CNS) has a limited capacity for regeneration and repair,
as many other organs do. Partly as a result, neurological diseases are the leading cause of medical burden
globally. Most neurological disorders cannot be cured, and primary treatments focus on managing
their symptoms and slowing down their progression. Cell therapy for neurological disorders offers
several therapeutic potentials and provides hope for many patients. Here we provide a general overview
of cell therapy in neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), Alzheimer’s disease
(AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Wilson’s disease (WD), stroke and traumatic brain injury
(TBI), involving many forms of stem cells, including embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent
stem cells. We also address the current concerns and perspectives for the future. Most studies for cell
therapy in neurological diseases are in the pre-clinical stage, and there is still a great need for further
research to translate neural replacement and regenerative therapies into clinical settings.