Precursor cell biology and the development of astrocyte transplantation therapies: lessons from spinal cord injury.

ABSTRACT: This review summarizes current progress on development of astrocyte transplantation therapies for repair of the damaged central nervous system. Replacement of neurons in the injured or diseased central nervous system is currently one of the most popular therapeutic goals, but if neuronal replacement is attempted in the absence of appropriate supporting cells (astrocytes and oligodendrocytes), then the chances of restoring neurological functional are greatly reduced. Although the past 20 years have offered great progress on oligodendrocyte replacement therapies, astrocyte transplantation therapies have been both less explored and comparatively less successful. We have now developed successful astrocyte transplantation therapies by pre-differentiating glial restricted precursor (GRP) cells i

SUBMITTER: Noble M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3210359 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature