Role of Neural Stem Cells in Neurodegenerative Diseases: From the Molecule and the Cell to the Clinic

摘要

Neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, stroke and multiple sclerosis (MS) are caused by an extensive loss of neurons and glial cells into the brain. Regrettably, there are no effective treatments against any of these disorders, yet. Recently, cell replacement and gene transfer into the damaged brain have shown a high potential for the design of novel therapeutic strategies to treat a broad spectrum of human neurological diseases.This special issue is a timely compilation of comprehensive and concise reviews, which summarize the most important experimental and preclinical studies involving stem-cell-based and gene therapies against neurodegenerative diseases. All contributors are experts in specific fields and all of them discuss the benefits and potential pitfalls of stem-cell-based therapies in several neurological disorders. Because they were written using a simple language, these peer-reviewed contributions are suitable for novices and experts readers.