Stem cells in spinal cord injury

Issue title: STEM CELLS AND DISEASE

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Wrathall, Jean R. | Lytle, Judith M.

Affiliations: Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA

Note: [] Corresponding author: Jean R. Wrathall, Ph.D., Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University Medical Center, 3970 Reservoir Rd., N.W., Washington, DC 20057, USA. Tel.: +1 202 687 1196; Fax: +1 202 687 0617; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: Traumatic injury to the adult spinal cord results in a massive loss of cells and permanent functional deficits. However, recent studies demonstrate that there is a proliferative response of endogenous glial precursors and progenitors and perhaps also pluripotent neural stem cells. These cells may prove to be an important new therapeutic target to improve recovery after injury to the spinal cord and brain.

Keywords: Neural stem cells, oligodendrocyte precursor cells, NG2[TeX:] ^{+} cells

Journal: Disease Markers, vol. 24, no. 4-5, pp. 239-250, 2008