The Role of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells and Their Products in the Treatment of Injured Spinal Cords

Curr. Issues Mol. Biol., 2023 · DOI: 10.3390/cimb45060329 · Published: June 16, 2023

Spinal Cord Injury Regenerative Medicine

Simple Explanation

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a destructive condition that results in lasting neurological damage resulting in disruption of the connection between the central nervous system and the rest of the body. Cell transplantation therapies show great potential in the treatment of damaged spinal cords. The most examined type of cells used in SCI research are mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). MSCs regenerate the injured tissue in two ways: (i) they are able to differentiate into some types of cells and so can replace the cells of injured tissue and (ii) they regenerate tissue through their powerful known paracrine effect.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Not specified

Evidence Level

Review

Key Findings

1
MSCs have the capacity to rapidly proliferate, where in a few weeks they can multiply their number several thousand times.
2
MSCs are known to have the ability to replace the cells of the nervous system that have died due to the damage, reduce astrocyte proliferation, and rebuild the damaged nerve tissue via differentiation into neuron-like cells and glial cells and stimulation of neural stem cell proliferation.
3
MSC-derived EVs can provide therapeutic effects that are comparable to their parent cells because they have signiﬁcant immunosuppressive properties and are able to go through the blood–spinal cord barrier (BSCB)

Research Summary

Mesenchymal stromal cells are a type of adult cells that have shown great potential in treating various neurological disorders, including spinal cord injury. However, not only are MSCs themselves in the sights of scientists, but scientists also are especially interested in their products, such as the mix of bioactive factors they release into their immediate surroundings as well as the extracellular vesicles that play an important role in communication between neighboring cells. Further studies are needed to fully understand the molecular mechanisms underlying their therapeutic effects. This ﬁeld of interest represents a challenge for further research with the potential for diagnostic and therapeutic applications and translations of these ﬁndings into clinical practice.

Practical Implications

Clinical Trials

The review highlights the increasing number of clinical trials involving MSCs for SCI, suggesting growing interest and potential for clinical translation.

Paracrine Effects

The emphasis on MSCs' paracrine effects and extracellular vesicles opens avenues for cell-free therapies, avoiding some risks associated with cell transplantation.

Biomaterial Scaffolds

Combining MSCs with biomaterial scaffolds enhances cell survival and efficacy at the injury site, indicating potential for improved therapeutic strategies.

Study Limitations

1
Lack of effective method of treatment with the possibility of returning the patient to the original state of life before the injury
2
MSCs have a low ability to survive and engraft after transplantation in the lesion site after SCI
3
Batches of MSCs from different donors vary widely

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