title: Neural stem cells: therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neural stem cells (NSCs) from specific brain areas or developed from progenitors of different sources are of therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Treatment strategies involve the (i) transplantation of exogenous NSCs; (ii) pharmacological modulations of endogenous NSCs and (iii) modulation of endogenous NSCs via the transplantation of exogenous NSCs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There is a consensus about the therapeutic potential of transplanted NSCs. The ability of NSCs to home into areas of central nervous system injury allows their delivery by intravenous injection. There is also a general agreement about the neuroprotective mechanisms of NSCs involving a 'bystander effect'.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Individual laboratories may be using phenotypically diverse NSCs, since these cells have been differentiated by a variety of neurotrophins and/or cultured on different ECM proteins, therefore differing in the expression of neuronal markers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Optimization of the dose, delivery route, timing of administration of NSCs, their interactions with the immune system and combination therapies in conjunction with tissue engineered neural prostheses are under investigation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In-depth understanding of the biological properties of NSCs, including mechanisms of therapy, safety, efficacy and elimination from the organism. These areas are central for further use in cell therapy. CAUTIONARY NOTE: As long as critical safety and efficacy issues are not resolved, we need to be careful in translating NSC therapy from animal models to patients.
authors.affiliation: The School of Pharmacy Institute for Drug Research, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Galit
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gincberg
authors.forename: Hadar
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arien-Zakay
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lazarovici
authors.forename: Peter I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Lelkes
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D024201:Bystander Effect; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation*; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D055495:Neurogenesis; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods