A Review of Neural Stem Cell Transplant Therapy for Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract

Stem cell transplants, and neural stem cells (NSCs) in particular, hold tremendous potential in recreating axonal relays that bridge traumatic spinal cord injuries (SCIs). While currently there is no standardized transplant methodology, common themes emerge from reviewing recent studies. Current research focuses on injecting NSCs without damaging existing tissue, overcoming common hurdles such as glial scarring, immune reaction, and tumorigenesis and inducing proper differentiation into sensory and motor neurons. Notably, scaffolding holds promise in improving outcomes. Although animal trials have demonstrated NSC ability to improve motor function, human trials are mostly limited to verification of safety instead of efficacy. While controversy and debate surround the use of stem cells, NSCs for SCI merit further exploration.