Cell therapy represents a realistic alternative for the treatment of a variety of degenerative and "civilization-related" diseases, including nervous system diseases.
The aim of cell therapy is to replace, repair, or improve the biological functioning of a defective tissue or organ. This aim can be achieved through the transplantation of isolated and well-characterized cells into the target organ in sufficient numbers and quality so that they can induce the recovery of function.
Recent advances in developmental biology, mainly the cloning of mammals using adult cells as nucleus donors, the establishment of human embryonic stem cell lines and the discovery of organ-specific stem cells with a remarkable differentiation potential, have substantially accelerated the potential of using these cells in human medicine.
A factor limiting the further development of transplantation-based therapies for human diseases is the permanent shortage of transplantable cells and organs. A major contribution in the forthcoming years will thus be the use of in vitro differentiated cells derived from embryonic or organ-specific stem cells. Totipotent embryonic stem cells may serve as the most suitable source of multipotent neural stem cells for transplantation. At present, research is under way to test procedures, e.g., for the creation of precursors of dopaminergic neurons, oligodendrocytes and astrocytes, suitable for transplantation into the CNS, so as to be able to replace nervous cells damaged by aging, neurodegenerative diseases and/or trauma-related injuries to the CNS .
Biocompatible heterogeneous hydrogels have been found to be capable of promoting regeneration of damaged tissue and raise the potential for regeneration of axonal ingrowth even in extensive CNS lesions. Among other applications, in vitro cultivated preparations of cartilage and epidermis using polymer supports have already found their way into clinical practice.
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