title: Restoring motor function using optogenetics and neural engraftment.
abstract: Controlling muscle function is essential for human behaviour and survival, thus, impairment of motor function and muscle paralysis can severely impact quality of life and may be immediately life-threatening, as occurs in many cases of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) and in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Repairing damaged spinal motor circuits, in either SCI or ALS, currently remains an elusive goal. Therefore alternative strategies are needed to artificially control muscle function and thereby enable essential motor tasks. This review focuses on recent advances towards restoring motor function, with a particular focus on stem cell-derived neuronal engraftment strategies, optogenetic control of motor function and the potential future translational application of these approaches.
authors.affiliation: Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1E 3BG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: J Barney
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Bryson
authors.affiliation: Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, United Kingdom; Department for Developmental Neurobiology, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Carolina Barcellos
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, United Kingdom; Department for Developmental Neurobiology, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lieberam
authors.affiliation: Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1E 3BG, United Kingdom; MRC Centre for Neuromuscuar Diseases, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1E 3BG, United Kingdom. Electronic address: l.greensmith@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Greensmith
mesh_terms: D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000628:therapy*; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000637:transplantation*; D062308:Optogenetics / Q000379:methods*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000628:therapy*