Choosing the right cell for spinal cord repair

Transplanting neural progenitor cells is a promising approach for repairing the injured central nervous system. Early studies showed that transplanting embryonic spinal cord tissue could facilitate repair, leading to clinical studies in patients with spinal cord injuries. These early studies also analyzed the structure of the transplanted tissue to understand how it promotes repair, revealing a mix of neurons and glia that become vascularized and maintain spinal cord morphology. Current research focuses on identifying specific interneuronal phenotypes within donor tissues that could be optimal for transplantation, particularly ventrally-derived phenotypes, which are associated with motor functions.

• 1
  Transplanted tissue can produce a heterogeneous mix of mature neurons and glia and become vascularized.
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  Donor cells from the dorsal region of the developing spinal cord can be innervated by host cell axons.
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  Enriching donor cells with stem cell derived V2a interneurons can enhance the extent of motor recovery.