Title

Progress of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Neural and Retinal Diseases

Authors

Tsz Kin Ng, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Veronica R. Fortino, University of MiamiFollow
Daniel Pelaez, Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Herman S. Cheung, University of Miami

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-26-2014

Publication Title

World Journal of Stem Cells

Keywords

Mesenchymal stem cells, Stem cell therapy, Central nervous system, Retina, Clinical trial

ISSN

1948-0210

Volume

6

Issue/No.

2

First Page

111

Last Page

119

Abstract

Complex circuitry and limited regenerative power make central nervous system (CNS) disorders the most challenging and difficult for functional repair. With elusive disease mechanisms, traditional surgical and medical interventions merely slow down the progression of the neurodegenerative diseases. However, the number of neurons still diminishes in many patients. Recently, stem cell therapy has been proposed as a viable option. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), a widely-studied human adult stem cell population, have been discovered for more than 20 years. MSCs have been found all over the body and can be conveniently obtained from different accessible tissues: bone marrow, blood, and adipose and dental tissue. MSCs have high proliferative and differentiation abilities, providing an inexhaustible source of neurons and glia for cell replacement therapy. Moreover, MSCs also show neuroprotective effects without any genetic modification or reprogramming. In addition, the extraordinary immunomodulatory properties of MSCs enable autologous and heterologous transplantation. These qualities heighten the clinical applicability of MSCs when dealing with the pathologies of CNS disorders. Here, we summarize the latest progress of MSC experimental research as well as human clinical trials for neural and retinal diseases. This review article will focus on multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, autism, glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration.

Comments

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Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

NSUWorks Citation

Ng, Tsz Kin; Veronica R. Fortino; Daniel Pelaez; and Herman S. Cheung. 2014. "Progress of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Neural and Retinal Diseases." World Journal of Stem Cells 6, (2): 111-119. doi:10.4252/wjsc.v6.i2.111.

DOI

10.4252/wjsc.v6.i2.111