Article

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a chronic childhood disorder described by a group of motor
and cognitive impairments and results in a substantial socio-economic burden to
the individual, family, and healthcare system. With no effective biological
interventions, therapies for CP are currently restricted to supportive and
management strategies. Cellular transplantation has been suggested as a putative
intervention for neural pathology, as mesenchymal and neural stem cells, as well
as olfactory ensheathing glia and Schwann cells, have shown some regenerative and
functional efficacy in experimental central nervous system disorders. This review
describes the most common cell types investigated and delineates their purported
mechanisms in vivo. Furthermore, it provides a cogent summary of both current
early-phase clinical trials using neural precursor cells (NPCs) and the state of
stem cell therapies for neurodegenerative conditions. Although NPCs are perhaps
the most promising candidates for cell replacement therapy in the context of CP,
much still remains to be understood regarding safety, efficacy, timing, dose, and
route of transplantation, as well as the capacity for combinatorial strategies.
CI - (c) 2013 Mac Keith Press.

Langue : ANGLAIS