Stem cells for spinal cord repair.

ABSTRACT

Spinal cord injury typically results in permanent disability. Many studies have indicated that transplantation of several different types of stem cells promotes functional recovery in animal models of spinal cord injury. A conceptually different approach to utilize stem cells for regenerative therapies may be recruitment of endogenous neural stem cells resident in the adult spinal cord. We discuss the possibilities, risks, and mechanisms for stem cells in spinal cord repair.