Recent Progress in the Regeneration of Spinal Cord Injuries by Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2019 · DOI: 10.3390/ijms20153838 · Published: August 6, 2019

Spinal Cord Injury Regenerative Medicine

Simple Explanation

Spinal cord injuries are difficult to heal, leading to loss of motor and sensory functions. Stem cell therapies, particularly using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), offer a promising approach to regenerate damaged nerve tissue. iPSCs can be generated from somatic cells, overcoming ethical concerns associated with embryonic stem cells. They can be differentiated into neural stem/progenitor cells (NSCs/NPCs) and transplanted into the injured spinal cord to replace damaged cells and promote recovery. This review summarizes methods for differentiating iPSCs into NPCs, modeling spinal cord injuries, and the current status of iPSC-NPC-based therapies for SCI.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Animal models (mice, rats, marmosets)

Evidence Level

Review

Key Findings

1
iPSC-derived NPCs can be successfully differentiated and engrafted into SCI animal models, leading to functional recovery of injury.
2
The use of 3D scaffolds in neural differentiation techniques can mimic the natural microenvironment of nervous tissue, enhancing the efficiency of iPSC differentiation into NPCs.
3
Meta-analysis indicates that iPSC-NPCs transplantation considerably promotes locomotor recovery by initiating microvascular and nerve regeneration and reducing inflammation.

Research Summary

Regeneration of spinal cord injuries (SCIs) is challenging due to complex pathological events. Neural stem/progenitor cells (NSCs/NPCs) derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) offer a promising cell-based therapy for SCI, avoiding ethical concerns associated with embryonic stem cells. Various methods for differentiating iPSCs into NPCs have been developed, including embryoid body formation and neural rosette isolation. These iPSC-derived NPCs can be transplanted into SCI animal models, leading to functional recovery. Despite promising pre-clinical results, challenges remain before clinical application, including ensuring safety, efficacy, and addressing potential tumorigenicity and immunogenicity of transplanted cells. Clinical trials are underway to test the therapeutic potential of hiPSC-NPCs in acute SCI patients.

Practical Implications

Therapeutic Potential

iPSC-NPCs offer a promising therapeutic option for SCI due to their ability to differentiate into various neural cell types and promote functional recovery.

Ethical Considerations

The use of iPSCs overcomes ethical concerns associated with embryonic stem cells, making them a more accessible and acceptable source for cell-based therapies.

Clinical Trials

Ongoing clinical trials are evaluating the safety and efficacy of hiPSC-NPCs in treating acute SCI, potentially leading to new treatment options for patients.

Study Limitations

1
Potential risk of tumor formation with iPSC-derived cells.
2
Challenges in ensuring complete differentiation and purity of iPSC-NPCs.
3
Need for further research to optimize transplantation methods and address graft-host interactions.

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