Therapeutic Cells and Stem Cells for Nerve Regeneration

Abstract

Although there is a considerable regenerative potential in the peripheral nervous system, recovery after traumatic nerve injuries, especially in the case of severe lesions, is incomplete. Despite the recent improvements in microsurgical techniques and the development of new nerve conduits that have widened the availability of tools to achieve more successful reinnervation of the peripheral targets, the clinical outcome is often still not satisfactory. The availability of autologous Schwann cells as donor cell types is very limited and their use from allogeneic sources raises a number of questions. Therefore the use of the regeneration-promoting effect of stem cells in peripheral nerve regeneration following injuries appears to be crucial. Multi- or pluripotent stem cells with a self-renewing capacity may be taken from several sources for preclinical applications and their use proved to be very promising to induce improved morphological and functional recovery in the injured peripheral nervous system. The future opportunities along with the pros and cons of stem cell–based therapies to improve peripheral nerve regeneration are discussed in this chapter.