Points regarding cell transplantation for the treatment of spinal cord injury

Cell transplantation is being explored as a way to treat spinal cord injuries. The goal is for the transplanted cells to survive and integrate into the damaged spinal cord, providing a structure for new nerve growth. However, some cells don't survive long-term but still improve recovery. Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and choroid plexus epithelial cells (CPECs) are examples of cells that don't survive long after transplantation but still promote nerve regeneration and locomotor improvement. It's thought they release factors that help with tissue repair. Neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) can survive long-term, proliferate, and differentiate, but controlling their behavior to ensure they integrate properly is challenging. Therefore, the safety of NSPCs in clinical applications is a concern.

• 1
  BMSCs, BMNCs, and CPECs enhance axon regeneration and locomotor function without long-term survival in the host spinal cord, suggesting the release of trophic factors.
• 2
  Schwann cells survive long-term and act as a scaffold for regenerating axons, overcoming the glial scar barrier, making them clinically relevant.
• 3
  NSPCs, while capable of long-term survival, proliferation, and differentiation, pose safety concerns due to difficulties in controlling their behavior and may not consistently improve locomotor function.