Article

Given their capacity to regenerate cells lost through injury or disease, stem
cells offer new vistas into possible treatments for degenerative diseases and
their underlying causes. As such, stem cell biology is emerging as a driving
force behind many studies in regenerative medicine.
This review focuses on the
current understanding of the applications of stem cells in treating ailments of
the human brain, with an emphasis on neurodegenerative diseases. Two types of
neural stem cells are discussed: endogenous neural stem cells residing within the
adult brain and pluripotent stem cells capable of forming neural cells in
culture. Endogenous neural stem cells give rise to neurons throughout life, but
they are restricted to specialized regions in the brain. Elucidating the
molecular mechanisms regulating these cells is key in determining their
therapeutic potential as well as finding mechanisms to activate dormant stem
cells outside these specialized microdomains. In parallel, patient-derived stem
cells can be used to generate neural cells in culture, providing new tools for
disease modeling, drug testing, and cell-based therapies. Turning these
technologies into viable treatments will require the integration of basic science
with clinical skills in rehabilitation.
- Régénération

Langue : ANGLAIS