Abstract
9 ISSN 1479-6708 10.2217/FNL.13.64 © 2014 Future Medicine Ltd Future Neurol. (2014) 9(1), 9–12 Stem cells possess a unique spectrum of biological features that provide a foundation of growth, development, adaptation and regeneration of the organism, starting from the embryonic stage and continuing through adult life. It is currently believed that senescence is firmly associated with a decline of stem cell selfrenewal [1,2]. Numerous subtypes of stem cells are currently available, including embryonic stem cells (ESCs) [3], various populations of adult/somatic stem cells (ASCs) and, finally, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) [4]. Taken together, stem cell-based therapy is now rightfully viewed by the clinical society as an emerging novel approach suitable for a treatment of numerous diseases, including those previously considered incurable. A list of diseases currently considered to be targets for future stem cell therapybased approaches includes neurodegenerative diseases, namely, Parkinson’s disease (PD) and secondary Parkinsonism, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple system atrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, stroke, brain trauma and spinal trauma, among others. It should be stressed that in contrast to the majority of other neurodegenerative disorders, the motor symptoms in PD are primarily caused by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Similarly, the pathology of stroke and brain/spinal trauma is, in many cases, associated with lesions within a single known anatomical localization. This factor makes PD and some other neurodegenerative disorders highly suitable for cell replacement strategies. By October 2013, the ClinicalTrials.gov database listed over 4700 clinical studies associated with stem cells [101]. Many of these studies aim to test the safety and efficiency of stem cells, particularly stem cell-derived cells in various neurodegenerative disorders. For example, PD [5,6], a progressive supranuclear palsy (also Steele-Richardson–Olszewski syndrome) [7], amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [8,9], multiple system atrophy [10] and spinocerebellar ataxia [11] became targets of stem cellbased therapeutic approaches. It is worth
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