Editorial: Stem cells and progenitor cells in ischemic stroke—fashion or future?

Thorsten R Doeppner,Dirk M Hermann

doi:10.3389/fncel.2015.00334

Thorsten R Doeppner, Dirk M Hermann

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2015.00334

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Abstract

Editorial: Stem cells and progenitor cells in ischemic stroke—fashion or future?

Highlights

Despite recent achievements in re-canalizing stroke therapies (Campbell et al, 2015; Goyal et al, 2015), which ensure reduction of deficits in a significant patient faction due to combined systemic thrombolysis and interventional clot removal, a major need remains for restorative therapies in patients suffering from persistent neurological deficits despite optimized treatment
Neurogenesis persists in the adult mammalian brain within distinct niches, such as the subventricular zone (SVZ) hosting stem cells and neural progenitor cells (NPCs) alike, the restorative potential of endogenous neurogenesis is generally insufficient and unable to support a full recovery of lost functions following stroke
The pivotal role of calpains, which are activated upon post-ischemic cellular calcium influx and control extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, in post-stroke neurogenesis was further analyzed by Machado et al (2015) who provide compelling evidence that deletion of the endogenous calpain inhibitor calpastatin hampers the proliferation and migration of NPCs, whereas calpain inhibition increases NPC proliferation, migration speed, and migration distance

Summary

Introduction

Despite recent achievements in re-canalizing stroke therapies (Campbell et al, 2015; Goyal et al, 2015), which ensure reduction of deficits in a significant patient faction due to combined systemic thrombolysis and interventional clot removal, a major need remains for restorative therapies in patients suffering from persistent neurological deficits despite optimized treatment. Neurogenesis persists in the adult mammalian brain within distinct niches, such as the subventricular zone (SVZ) hosting stem cells and neural progenitor cells (NPCs) alike, the restorative potential of endogenous neurogenesis is generally insufficient and unable to support a full recovery of lost functions following stroke.

Results

Conclusion