Cell therapies for traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Preliminary discoveries of the efficacy of cell therapy are currently being translated to clinical trials. Whereas a significant amount of work has been focused on cell therapy applications for a wide array of diseases, including cardiac disease, bone disease, hepatic disease, and cancer, there continues to be extraordinary anticipation that stem cells will advance the current therapeutic regimen for acute neurological disease. Traumatic brain injury is a devastating event for which current therapies are limited. In this report the authors discuss the current status of using adult stem cells to treat traumatic brain injury, including the basic cell types and potential mechanisms of action, preclinical data, and the initiation of clinical trials.

Fig. 1

Light microscopic image showing MSCs grown in vitro after isolation from bone marrow and several passages.

Fig. 2

Left: Light microscopic image demonstrating NSCs (arrows) grown in vitro after isolation from the subventricular zone. Right: Light microscopic image showing a magnified view of the NSCs as groups of cells called neurospheres.

Fig. 3

Protocol for enrollment, cell infusion, and follow-up in a Phase I clinical trial assessing the safety of autologous bone marrow cells in children after TBI. ARDS = acute respiratory distress syndrome; BM = bone marrow; BMT = BM transplantation; CAGT = The Center for Cell and Gene Therapy; DTMR = diffusion tensor magnetic resonance (imaging); GOS = Glascow Outcome Scale; Neuro = neuropsychiatric testing.