A review on stem cell therapy for spinal cord injury

Abstract: By enabling improved sensory and motor functions in animal models, stem cells (SCs) offer new hope as a brand-new therapeutic approach for spinal cord injury (SCI). Neural stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, embryonic stem cells, iatrogenic pluripotent stem cells, and others are among the stem cells used for neuro restoration. A better understanding of the benefits, drawbacks and precise performance of different stem cells in the treatment of SCI could aid in the development of neurorestorative approaches. The most important goal of SC-based medical care for SCI is to replace neurons and interstitial tissue cells that die quickly after injury. Stem cells help to promote remyelination by replacing neuroglia cells with organic process factors that promote neurite outgrowth, nerve fiber elongation, and fiber density, as well as activating resident or transplanted ascendants cells across the lesion cavity. While many SC transplantation methods have shown promising but limited efficacy, the mechanistic proof is frequently lacking, which is arguably the most significant impediment to faster progress and clinical application. The most difficult task ahead is to encourage clinicians, researchers, and patients to work together to define and optimize the mechanisms of SC performance, as well as to identify the best source(s) of SCs that can produce cost-effective and safe therapeutic approaches.

Keywords: Stem cells (SCs); Spinal cord injury (SCI); neural stem cells; mesenchymal stem cells; embryonic stem cells; induced pluripotent stem cells; Differentiation; Remyelination; Inflammation.