Abstract

Over the last decade, the potential for therapeutic use of stem cell transplantation for cell replacement or as cellular vectors for gene delivery for neurometabolic and neurodegenerative diseases has received a great deal of interest. There has been substantial progress in our understanding of stem cell biology. Potential applications of cell-mediated therapy include direct cell replacement or protection and repair of the host nervous system. Given the complexities of the cellular organization of the nervous system, especially in diseased states, it seems that using stem cells as cellular vectors to prevent or ameliorate neurological disorders rather than cell replacement and the regrowth of damaged circuitry is more likely to succeed in the near term. Recent success in the treatment of lysosomal storage diseases with genetically modified stem cells support this notion. In Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, stem cell therapy is at its early stages and data generated in animal models and clinical trials using other cell types suggest that a combination of gene and stem cell therapy may be an optimal therapeutic paradigm.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.