title: Stem cells for brain repair and recovery after stroke.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stroke is a major worldwide cause of death and disability. Currently, intravenous thrombolysis and reperfusion therapies, but not the so-called neuroprotectant drugs, have been shown to be effective for acute ischemic stroke. Thus, new strategies to promote brain plasticity are necessary. Stem cell administration is an attractive future therapeutic approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  Brain protection and repair mechanisms are activated after stroke. This article is focused on the capacity of stem cell-based therapy to enhance this postinfarct brain plasticity and recovery. Future therapeutic considerations and prospects for stroke are discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although cell therapy is promising in stroke treatment, mechanisms of action need to be characterized in detail. Further, the different mechanisms of axonal plasticity and remodeling involucrated in brain repair, not only in the gray but also in white matter, must be investigated through noninvasive techniques, and a multidisciplinary approach is fundamental in this.
authors.affiliation: Autonoma University of Madrid, Neuroscience Area of IdiPAZ (Health Research Institute), La Paz University Hospital, Department of Neurology and Stroke Centre, Neuroscience and Cerebrovascular Research Laboratory , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez-Fernández
authors.forename: Berta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Frutos
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramos-Cejudo
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Otero-Ortega
authors.forename: Blanca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fuentes
authors.forename: Exuperio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Díez-Tejedor
mesh_terms: D042501:Angiogenic Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D002465:Cell Movement; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000502:physiology; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D055495:Neurogenesis; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D051381:Rats; D012038:Regeneration; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D020521:Stroke / Q000601:surgery*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical
chemical_list: D042501:Angiogenic Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors