Pluripotent stem cells for neural regeneration

Abstract

Neurodegenerative disorders remain challenging to treat using traditional pharmacological or neurosurgical approaches. In contrast, cell therapy is a promising strategy for ameliorating irreparable brain tissue damage during the process of neurogenesis. Currently, more efficient methodologies for isolating neural stem cells from a plethora of sources including hematopoietic stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells are continually being developed. The availability of neural stem cells would ensure that damaged neural tissues can be regenerated and fast-track translation from bed to bedside. In this chapter, we discuss various sources of neural stem cells, strategies for their isolation and characterization, and application of stem cells in the treatment of neurological disorders. Historically, clinical application of cell therapy for treating neurological diseases has been hindered due to numerous technical difficulties. Therefore, these barriers and potential ways of addressing them are also discussed.