title: Stem cell biology and its therapeutic applications in the setting of spinal cord injury.
abstract: The development of an acute traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) inevitably leads to a complex cascade of ischemia and inflammation that results in significant scar tissue formation. The development of such scar tissue provides a severe impediment to neural regeneration and healing with restoration of function. A multimodal approach to treatment is required because SCIs occur with differing levels of severity and over different lengths of time. To achieve significant breakthroughs in outcomes, such approaches must combine both neuroprotective and neuroregenerative treatments. Novel techniques modulating endogenous stem cells demonstrate great promise in promoting neuroregeneration and restoring function.
authors.affiliation: Neural Regeneration Laboratory, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona 85013, USA. neuropub@chw.edu
authors.forename: Nicholas C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Bambakidis
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: Eric M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Horn
authors.forename: Xukui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Mark C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Preul
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Theodore
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Spetzler
authors.forename: Volker K H
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Sonntag
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D006801:Humans; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*