ABSTRACT
CONTENTS 3.1 Introduction 64 3.2 Adult Neural Stem Cells 66
3.2.1Location of NSCs in the Brain 66 3.2.2DiŽerentiation Potential of Adult NSCs 66 3.2.3…erapeutic Applications of Adult NSCs in Neurological Disorders67 3.2.4Success and Limitations of NSC-Based …erapy 68
3.3Embryonic Stem Cells 69 3.3.1Early Embryogenesis 69 3.3.2Derivation and Characterization of Mouse ES Cells 69 3.3.3Derivation and Characterization of Human ES Cells 70 3.3.4Potential Applications of ES Cells to Treat Degenerative Diseases 71 3.3.5DiŽerentiation of Functional Neural Cells from ES Cells71 3.3.6ES Cell-Derived Neuronal Cells for Treatment of Neurological Diseases
in Animal Models72 3.3.6.1Parkinson Disease 72 3.3.6.2Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis 73 3.3.6.3Huntington Disease 73
3.3.7Transplantation of ES Cell-Derived Oligodendrocyte Progenitors 74 3.3.8Challenges and Perspectives 74
3.4Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells75 3.4.1Derivation of iPS Cells 75 3.4.2Methodological Improvement76 3.4.3Potential Clinical Applications of iPS Cells76 3.4.4Challenges and Perspectives 77
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3.1 INTRODUCTION …e Superman actor Christopher Reeve was a symbol of strength, not only for his famous role in the movie but more so for his courage in ‡ghting a tragic spinal cord injury. He fought courageously for 9 years, from the moment that he was thrown from his horse in 1995 until he died in 2004 at the age of 52. Spinal cord injuries can occur not only from trauma, but also from many other causes, e.g., neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and multiple sclerosis (AMS). Spinal cord injuries cause myelopathy or damage to nerve roots or myelinated ‡ber tracts that carry signals to and from the brain. Traumatic injury can also damage the gray matter in the central part of the cord, causing segmental losses of interneurons and motor neurons. Disappointingly, treatment options for acute, traumatic non-penetrating spinal cord injuries are still limited to the administration of anti-inšammatory agents or cold saline shortly a§er injury. …eir eŽects are barely empirical and even disputable. …e damaged nerves are barely repaired or regenerated due to scarring. Is there any way that they can be replaced with new, healthy neurons? …e answer is yes given the discovery of neural stem cells (NSCs) and their regenerating power.
