Human astrocytes derived from glial restricted progenitors support regeneration of the injured spinal cord.

ABSTRACT: Cellular transplantation using neural stem cells and progenitors is a promising therapeutic strategy that has the potential to replace lost cells, modulate the injury environment, and create a permissive environment for the regeneration of injured host axons. Our research has focused on the use of human glial restricted progenitors (hGRP) and derived astrocytes. In the current study, we examined the morphological and phenotypic properties of hGRP prepared from the fetal central nervous system by clinically-approved protocols, compared with astrocytes derived from hGRP prepared by treatment with ciliary neurotrophic factor or bone morphogenetic protein 4. These differentiation protocols generated astrocytes that showed morphological differences and could be classified along an immature to m

SUBMITTER: Haas C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3689933 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature