Stem cell therapy for human neurodegenerative disorders-how to make it work.
Recent progress shows that neurons suitable for transplantation can be generated from stem cells in culture, and that the adult brain produces new neurons from its own stem cells in response to injury. These findings raise hope for the development of stem cell therapies in human neurodegenerative disorders. Before clinical trials are initiated, we need to know much more about how to control stem cell proliferation and differentiation into specific phenotypes, induce their integration into existing neural and synaptic circuits, and optimize functional recovery in animal models closely resembling the human disease.
Laboratory of Neurogenesis and Cell Therapy, Section of Restorative Neurology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, University Hospital, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden. olle.lindvall@neurol.lu.se
Olle
O
Lindvall
Zaal
Z
Kokaia
Alberto
A
Martinez-Serrano
D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000628:therapy; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000628:therapy; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000628:therapy