Article

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability
worldwide. Intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator is the only
available therapy for acute ischemic stroke, but its use is limited by a narrow
therapeutic window and cannot stimulate endogenous repair and regeneration of
damaged brain tissue. Stem cell-based approaches hold much promise as potential
novel treatments to restore neurological function after stroke.
In this review, we summarize data from preclinical and clinical studies to
investigate the potential application of stem cell therapies for treatment of
stroke. Stem cells have been proposed as a potential source of new cells to
replace those lost due to central nervous system injury, as well as a source of
trophic molecules to minimize damage and promote recovery. Various stem cells
from multiple sources can generate neural cells that survive and form synaptic
connections after transplantation in the stroke-injured brain. Stem cells also
exhibit neurorevitalizing properties that may ameliorate neurological deficits
through stimulation of neurogenesis, angiogenesis and inhibition of inflammation.
CONCLUSION: Performed in stroke, cell therapy would decrease brain
damage and reduce functional deficits. After the damage has been done, it would
still improve neurological functions by activating endogenous repair.
Nevertheless, many questions raised by experimental studies particularly related
to long-term safety and technical details of cell preparation and administration
must be resolved before wider clinical use.
CI - Copyright (c) 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Langue : FRANCAIS