Stem Cell Interventions in Neurology: From Bench to Bedside

Issue title: Therapeutic Trials in Alzheimer’s Disease: Where Are We Now?

Guest editors: Paula I. Moreira, Jesus Avila, Daniela Galimberti, Miguel A. Pappolla, Germán Plascencia-Villa, Aaron A. Sorensen, Xiongwei Zhu and George Perry

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Pappolla, Miguel A.^{a; *} | Wu, Ping^b | Fang, Xiang^a | Poeggeler, Burkhard^c | Sambamurti, Kumar^d | Wisniewski, Thomas^e | Perry, George^f

Affiliations: [a] Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA | [b] Department of Neuroscience & Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA | [c] Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, Faculty of Biology and Psychology, Georg August University Göttingen, Gütersloh, Germany | [d] Department of Neurosciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA | [e] Departments of Neurology, Pathology, and Psychiatry, New York University Alzheimer’s Research Center, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA | [f] Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Miguel A. Pappolla, MD, PhD, Professor of Neurology, Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Bldg. 17, Rm 4.212-B, Galveston, TX 77555-0620, USA. Tel.: +1 713 661 0300; Fax: +1 713 822 0480; E-mail: pappolla@aol.com.

Abstract: Stem cell therapies are progressively redefining the treatment landscape for a spectrum of neurological and age-related disorders. This review discusses the molecular and functional attributes of stem cells, emphasizing the roles of neural stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells in the context of neurological diseases such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. The review also explores the potential of stem cells in addressing the aging process. The paper analyzes stem cells’ intrinsic properties of self-renewal, differentiation, and paracrine effects, alongside the importance of laboratory-modified stem cells like induced pluripotent stem cells and transgenic stem cells. Insights into disease-specific stem cell treatments are offered, reviewing both successes and challenges in the field. This includes the translational difficulties from rodent studies to human trials. The review concludes by acknowledging the uncharted territories that warrant further investigation, emphasizing the potential roles of stem cell-derived exosomes and indole-related molecules, and aiming at providing a basic understanding of stem cell therapies.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, regenerative medicine, stem cells, stroke, traumatic brain injury

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-230897

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 101, no. s1, pp. S395-S416, 2024