title: Human neural progenitor cells in central nervous system lesions.
abstract: Various immature cells can be isolated from human embryonic and fetal central nervous system (CNS) residual tissue and potentially be used in cell therapy for a number of neurological diseases and CNS insults. Transplantation of neural stem and progenitor cells is essential for replacing lost cells, particularly in the CNS with very limited endogenous regenerative capacity. However, while dopamine released from transplanted cells can substitute the lost dopamine neurons in the experimental models of Parkinson's disease, stem and progenitor cells primarily have a neuroprotective effect, probably through the release of trophic factors. Understanding the therapeutic effects of transplanted cells is crucial to determine the design of clinical trials. During the last few years, a number of clinical trials for CNS diseases and insults such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), stroke, and spinal cord trauma using neural progenitor cells have been initiated. Data from these early studies will provide vital information on the safety of transplanting these cells, which still is a major concern. That the beneficial results observed in experimental models also can be repeated in the clinical setting is highly hoped for.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurodegeneration, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Novum 5th Floor, S-14157, Huddinge, and Stockholm Sjukhem Foundation, Box 12230, S-10226 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Elisabet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Åkesson
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurodegeneration, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Novum 5th Floor, S-14157, Huddinge, and Stockholm Sjukhem Foundation, Box 12230, S-10226 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: erik.sundstrom@ki.se.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sundström
mesh_terms: D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000628:therapy; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000637:transplantation*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000628:therapy; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000628:therapy; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D020521:Stroke / Q000628:therapy; D061665:Time-to-Treatment
keywords: cell therapy; nervous system lesions; neural progenitor cells; neurodegenerative disease; stem cells; transplantation