Stefano Pluchino1, Roberto Furlan, Gianvito Martino. 1. Neuroimmunology Unit - Department of Biotechnology (DIBIT) and Department of Neurology and Neurophysiology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Spontaneous remyelination occurs in the central nervous system of patients with multiple sclerosis. However, this process is not robust enough to promote a functional and stable recovery of the myelin architecture. The development of cell-based therapies, aimed at promoting multifocal remyelination, is therefore foreseen. RECENT FINDINGS: Several experimental cell-based strategies aimed at replacing damaged myelin-forming cells have been developed in the last few years. However, most of these therapeutic approaches - although consistently able to form new myelin sheaths at the transplantation site - are unfeasible owing to the mutifocality of the demyelinating process in multiple sclerosis patients and the inability to grow and produce large numbers of differentiated myelin-forming cells in vitro. Stem cell-based therapies that partially overcome these limitations have been proposed recently. SUMMARY: Stem cell-based remyelinating therapies can be considered a plausible alternative strategy in immune-mediated demyelinating disorders. However, before any potential applications in patients with multiple sclerosis can be envisaged, it is necessary to confront the following preliminary, and still unsolved, questions: (1) the ideal stem cell source for transplantation; (2) the most appropriate route of stem cell administration; and, last but not least, (3) the best approach for achieving an appropriate, functional and long-lasting integration of transplanted stem cells into the host tissue.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Spontaneous remyelination occurs in the central nervous system of patients with multiple sclerosis. However, this process is not robust enough to promote a functional and stable recovery of the myelin architecture. The development of cell-based therapies, aimed at promoting multifocal remyelination, is therefore foreseen. RECENT FINDINGS: Several experimental cell-based strategies aimed at replacing damaged myelin-forming cells have been developed in the last few years. However, most of these therapeutic approaches - although consistently able to form new myelin sheaths at the transplantation site - are unfeasible owing to the mutifocality of the demyelinating process in multiple sclerosispatients and the inability to grow and produce large numbers of differentiated myelin-forming cells in vitro. Stem cell-based therapies that partially overcome these limitations have been proposed recently. SUMMARY: Stem cell-based remyelinating therapies can be considered a plausible alternative strategy in immune-mediated demyelinating disorders. However, before any potential applications in patients with multiple sclerosis can be envisaged, it is necessary to confront the following preliminary, and still unsolved, questions: (1) the ideal stem cell source for transplantation; (2) the most appropriate route of stem cell administration; and, last but not least, (3) the best approach for achieving an appropriate, functional and long-lasting integration of transplanted stem cells into the host tissue.
Authors: Gianvito Martino; Robin J M Franklin; Anne Baron Van Evercooren; Douglas A Kerr Journal: Nat Rev Neurol Date: 2010-04-20 Impact factor: 42.937