Stem cell therapies for the lysosomal storage diseases - the quintessential neurodegenerative diseases.
As a novel neurotherapeutic strategy, stem cell transplantation has received considerable attention. However, little focus of this attention has been devoted to the probabilities of success of stem cell therapies for specific neurological disorders. Given the complexities of the cellular organization of the nervous system and the manner in which it is assembled during development, it seems unlikely that a cellular replacement strategy will succeed for any but the simplest of neurological disorders in the near future. A general strategy for stem cell transplantation to prevent or minimize neurological disorders is much more likely to succeed. The lysosomal storage diseases represent the quintessential neurodegenerative diseases for which preventative stem cell transplantation will both likely succeed and set the stage for therapeutic approaches to other neurodegenerative diseases.
Schwartz
Philip Hitchins
PH
Neuroscience Research Laboratories, Children's Hospital of Orange County Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Orange County, 455 South Main Street, Orange, California 92868, USA. pschwartz@choc.org
Brick
David Joseph
DJ
D000818:Animals; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D016464:Lysosomal Storage Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000473:pathology; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation