The therapeutic effects of cellular therapy for functional recovery after brain injury.
The studies presented in this article suggest that marrow-derived cellular therapy may be an effective adjunct treatment for functional recovery after stroke. Cellular therapy can enhance the endogenous restorative mechanisms of the injured brain, assisting the tissue as it returns to a "developmental" state and supporting the process of neovascularization, neurogenesis, and neural reorganization. The advantages of using MSCs are that they can be given as an autologous graft, avoiding risks of rejection and graft-versus-host reactions, and that they can be given intravenously, minimizing complications. It is anticipated that cellular therapy, in combination with standard rehabilitation therapy and neural retraining, can improve functional outcomes following stroke.
Harvey
Richard L
RL
Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, and The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, 345 E Superior Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA. r-harvey@northwestern.edu
Chopp
Michael
M
D000818:Animals; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020127:Recovery of Function; D020521:Stroke / Q000601:surgery*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000637:transplantation; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors