Advances in Neural Stem Cell Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury: Safety, Efficacy, and Future Perspectives

Neurospine, 2022 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.14245/ns.2244658.329 · Published: December 1, 2022

Spinal Cord Injury Regenerative Medicine

Simple Explanation

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe condition affecting motor and sensory functions, leading to a reduced quality of life. Current treatments are not effective in reversing tissue damage and restoring neurological functions. Stem cell therapies, particularly those using neural stem cells (NSCs), show promise in regenerating damaged neural tissues. NSCs are special cells that can turn into different types of neural cells. Studies in animals have shown that NSCs can help repair spinal cord injuries by promoting nerve cell growth and restoring connections between cells. Clinical trials have begun to test the safety and effectiveness of using NSCs to treat SCI in humans. Despite challenges in using NSCs clinically, progress in the field is enhancing the prospects for cell-based treatments. This review discusses the characteristics, sources, and recent developments of NSCs in clinical trials for SCI, highlighting their potential to regenerate damaged spinal cords.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Not specified

Evidence Level

Review Article

Key Findings

1
NSCs have regenerative effects in SCI animal models through paracrine effects and direct neuronal differentiation, restoring synaptic connectivity and neural networks.
2
NSCs preferentially differentiate into neural lineages such as neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes, which are attractive for clinical use in CNS diseases.
3
Several preclinical studies have tested combinatory treatments to enhance grafted cell survival, migration, differentiation and axonal regeneration along with functional recovery.

Research Summary

Neural stem cells (NSCs) hold promise for treating spinal cord injury (SCI) due to their ability to regenerate damaged neural tissue. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that transplanted NSCs can restore synaptic connectivity and neural networks through paracrine effects and direct neuronal differentiation. Clinical trials using NSCs have shown gradual progress in technical development and therapeutic efficacy, enhancing the prospects for cell-based treatments in SCI. However, challenges remain in optimizing the timing, dosage, administration route, and cellular source of NSCs for effective clinical use. Future research should focus on acquiring further data regarding treatment benefits, adjusting dose and administration, determining the optimal injection route and cell source, and matching preclinical animal models with human SCI conditions to fully realize the potential of NSCs in SCI treatment.

Practical Implications

Optimizing Treatment Strategies

Further research is needed to determine the optimal timing, dosage, and administration route for NSC transplantation to maximize therapeutic benefits.

Combinatory Therapies

Exploring combinatory therapies, such as neurotrophic factors, scaffolds, and neurorehabilitation, may enhance the efficacy of NSC-based treatments for SCI.

Clinical Translation

Addressing the challenges in translating preclinical findings to clinical trials is crucial for advancing NSC therapy and improving outcomes for patients with SCI.

Study Limitations

1
Difficulty in translation from bench to bedside in SCI research.
2
Inconsistent results in stem cell therapy in animal models regarding functional recovery.
3
Practical questions such as the location and route of cell transplantation, adequate number of transplanted cells, assessment tools and protocols and variability in NSCs generation are still unknown.

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