Neural Stem Cells and Induced Neurons for Nerve Injury Repair

Cell transplantation can relieve the symptoms of or even reverse neurodegenerative diseases and repair nerve injuries. Fibroblast growth factor 1 promotes neuronal survival and stimulates axonal growth. A combination of fibroblast growth factor 1 and cell-based therapy is promising for nerve repair. Developers of future cell-based treatment should consider several key concerns: (1) the source of cells should be autologous, (2) consistent methods and protocols for cell isolation should be used, (3) the treatment should be tested in suitable animal models, and (4) the microenvironment of cells implanted should be optimally characterized. In addition, developing high temporal and spatial resolution images for cell tracking is crucial for evaluating the efficacy of cell transplantation. In this paper, we summarize recent progress in cellular reprogramming, such as induced neural stem cells and induced neurons, and the development of future cell-based therapy for peripheral nerve and spinal cord injury that includes conduits and growth factors.