title: A possible new focus for stroke treatment - migrating stem cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stroke is a leading cause of mortality in the US. More so, its infliction often leaves patients with lasting morbidity and deficits. Ischemic stroke comprises nearly 90% of incidents and the majority of medical treatment aims at reestablishing perfusion and preventing recurrence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Long-term options for neurorestoration are limited by the infancy of their innovative approach. Accumulating evidence suggests the therapeutic potential of stem cells in neurorestoration, however, proper stem cell migration remains a challenge in translating stem cell therapy from the laboratory to the clinic. In this paper, we propose the role that exogenous stem cell transplantation may serve in facilitating the migration of endogenous stem cells to the site of injury, an idea termed 'biobridge'.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recent research in the field of traumatic brain injury has provided a foundational understanding that, through the use of exogenous stem cells, native tissue architecture may be manipulated by proteinases to allow better communication between the endogenous sites of neural stem cells and the regions of injury. There is still much to be learned about these mechanisms, though it is the devastating nature of stroke that necessitates continued research into the prospective therapeutic potential of this novel approach.
authors.affiliation: University of South Florida College of Medicine, Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair, Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair , 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL , USA +1 813 974 3154 ; +1 813 974 3078 ; cborlong@health.usf.edu.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Kelsey
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: Travis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dailey
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tajiri
authors.forename: Cesario V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Borlongan
mesh_terms: D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002465:Cell Movement; D066026:Endothelial Progenitor Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D020521:Stroke / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases
keywords: biobridge; neural repair; neural stem cells; stem cell migration; stem cells; stroke