Stem cells and neurodegenerative diseases.
Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the neurodegenerative changes or apoptosis of neurons involved in networks, which are important to specific physiological functions. With the development of old-aging society, the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases is on the increase. However, it is difficult to diagnose for most of neurodegenerative diseases. At present, there are too few effective therapies. Advances in stem cell biology have raised the hope and possibility for the therapy of neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, stem cells have been widely attempted to treat neurodegenerative diseases of animal model. Here we review the progress and prospects of various stem cells, including embryonic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cell and neural stem cells and so on, for the treatments of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington' disease and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Lou Gehrig's disease.
Hou
LingLing
L
Institute of Biological Science and Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China. llhou@bjtu.edu.cn
Hong
Tao
T
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology