Abstract
Stem cells, a special subset of cells derived from embryo or adult tissues, are known to present the characteristics of self-renewal, multiple lineages of differentiation, high plastic capability, and long-term maintenance. Recent reports have further suggested that neural stem cells (NSCs) derived from the adult hippocampal and subventricular regions possess the utilizing potential to develop the transplantation strategies and to screen the candidate agents for neurogenesis, neuroprotection, and neuroplasticity in neurodegenerative diseases. In this article, we review the roles of NSCs and other stem cells in neuroprotective and neurorestorative therapies for neurological and psychiatric diseases. We show the evidences that NSCs play the key roles involved in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative disorders, including depression, stroke and Parkinson’s disease. Moreover, the potential and possible utilities of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS), reprogramming from adult fibroblasts with ectopic expression of four embryonic genes, are also reviewed and further discussed. An understanding of the biophysiology of stem cells could help us elucidate the pathogenicity and develop new treatments for neurodegenerative disorders. In contrast to cell transplantation therapies, the application of stem cells can further provide a platform for drug discovery and small molecular testing, including Chinese herbal medicines. In addition, the high-throughput stem cell-based systems can be used to elucidate the mechanisms of neuroprotective candidates in translation medical research for neurodegenerative diseases.
Highlights
Stem cells are classified into three types according to their abilities to differentiate
These observations implicated that adult hippocampal neurogenesis is decreased by stress and this process of neuron loss may be involved in both the pathogenesis and treatment of mood disorders
Recent reports suggested that the environmental factors, especially the detrimental factors induced by neuronal injury, have a critical impact on adult neurogenesis
Summary
Stem cells are classified into three types according to their abilities to differentiate. The second type is pluripotent stem cells such as embryonic stem (ES) cells and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells They can give rise to every cell of an organism except extraembryonic tissues, such as placenta. The third type is multipotent stem cells They are adult stem cells which only generate specific lineages of cells [1]. Neural stem cells (NSCs) are multipotent stem cells which are derived from neural tissues, either from the central nervous system or peripheral nervous systems [1]. These cells are self-renewing and can give rise to all cell types (neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocyes) of the nervous system through asymmetric cell division [1]. We will introduce the roles of NSCs in the pathogenesis in some psychiatric and neurological diseases, and the application of stem cell-based therapies
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