The Potential for iPS-Derived Stem Cells as a Therapeutic Strategy for Spinal Cord Injury: Opportunities and Challenges

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating trauma causing long-lasting disability. The use of iPSCs has been particularly attractive, since they avoid the ethical and moral concerns that surround other stem cells. For applications in SCI, the iPSCs can be differentiated into neural precursor cells, neurons, oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, neural crest cells and mesenchymal stromal cells that can act by replacing lost cells or providing environmental support.

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  iPSC-derived cells can be useful in the treatment of SCI through cell replacement and restoration of lost myelin and through trophic support, which results in the induction of neuroprotection and a reduction in cell loss.
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  iPSC-derived cells can help remodel the physical structure of the tissue following injury to make it a less inhibitory and more permissive substrate for neural regeneration.
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  The Okano group next proceeded to test the efficiency of iPSCs derived from human fibroblasts. hiPSC-derived NPCs were transplanted into the spinal cord of NOD-SCID (non-obese diabetic-server combine immunodeficiency) mice with a T10 contusion injury.