Therapeutic Plasticity of Neural Stem Cells

Dr. Gianvito Martino of the Institute of Experimental Neurology at the San Raffaele Institute in Milan, Italy reported on the therapeutic plasticity of neural stem cells.

Recent evidence challenges the conventional view that neural stem/precursor cells (NPCs) protect and repair the central nervous system (CNS) simply by replacing damaged cells. Rather, NPCs may also promote CNS repair by a “bystander” effect. In other words, NPCs may release a mixture of neuroprotective molecules at the site of tissue damage. These protective substances are released in a coordinated manner, in response to the specific needs of the damaged tissue. Even in undamaged tissue, NPCs produce these molecules, which and help to maintain nerve tissue throughout life. These protective agents may be common to many kinds of somatic stem cells (e.g. mesenchymal stem cells). These kinds of stem cells don’t normally differentiate into neural cells, yet they may efficiently promote CNS repair. Thus, the repair capacity of stem cells may well include their ability to adapt their fate and function(s) to specific needs in response to different pathological conditions (therapeutic plasticity). The discovery that transplanted NPCs may protect the brain through bystander strategies is of pivotal importance for the future of stem cell based therapeutics.