Perspectives of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Based Neuroregeneration

Mini Review

J Stem Cells Res, Rev & Rep. 2014;1(3): 1012.

Perspectives of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Based Neuroregeneration

Katarzyna Roszek* and Joanna Czarnecka

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Environment Protection, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland

*Corresponding author:Roszek K, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Environment Protection, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Gagarin St. 7, 87-100 Torun, Poland

Received: September 23, 2014; Accepted: October 09, 2014; Published: October 09, 2014

Abstract

Stem cell-based therapy seems to be a promising strategy to treat neurodegenerative diseases, in particular those that are fatal and difficult to treat. However, the sources of stem cells are required to comply with the requirement of availability and expanding in culture, to overcome ethical objections and concerns of graft rejection. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are population of adult stem cells that fulfill all these criteria. These cells are able to differentiate into osteoblasts, chondrocytes and adipocytes as well as cardiomyocytes, hepatocytes, endothelial and pancreatic cells. The most recent studies have been focused on the neurogenic potential of mesenchymal stem cells expressed by their ability to differentiate into neural and glial cell types. The article focuses on current approaches to the mesenchymal stem cell-based neuroregeneration and their perspectives. The anti-inflammatory action of MSCs and their potential effects on neuroprotection and neuroregeneration has been described in respect to the central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Some representative clinical and experimental trials using MSCs in CNS therapies have been specified.

Keywords: Mesenchymal stem cells; Neural lineage differentiation; Genetically modified stem cells; Neuroregeneration; Central nervous system disorders

Introduction

The Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) have received considerable attention as a promising population of adult stem cells. They can be derived from various adult tissues, such as bone marrow, umbilical blood and cord or adipose tissue and they easily expand in culture. Human mesenchymal stem cells are attractive tool for regeneration because of their plasticity and potential to differentiate into multiple cell lineages. Their ability to differentiate in vitro into osteoblasts, chondrocytes and adipocytes is one of the minimal criteria for defining human MSCs [1]. These cells were also found to differentiate into cardiomyocytes, hepatocytes, endothelial and pancreatic cells. However, MSCs derived from different sources express distinct biological potential - some of them are easy to proliferate whereas the others have a greater potential to differentiate [2,3]. The most recent studies have been focused on the neurogenic potential of mesenchymal stem cells represented by their ability to differentiate into neural and glial cell types (as summarized in [3]). Additionally, MSCs have shown the extraordinary immunomodulatory properties by suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines production, and therefore enable autologous and, what is more beneficial for patients, heterologous transplantation without the need of immunosuppression [4-6]. Thus, MSCs exhibit a promising therapeutic potential in numerous disease models, including the Central Nervous System (CNS) disorders. In this review we describe the current approaches to the mesenchymal stem cell-based neuroregeneration and their therapeutic prospects.

The MSC-based experimental therapies of CNS disorders can be classified into a three major groups, based on the transplantation of naive undifferentiated MSCs, MSC-derived neural cells and genetically modified MSCs – Figure 1.

Citation: Roszek K and Czarnecka J. Perspectives of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Based Neuroregeneration. J Stem Cells Res, Rev & Rep. 2014;1(3): 1012. ISSN:2381-9073