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Review
. 2011 Oct;95(2):213-28.
doi: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2011.08.005. Epub 2011 Aug 30.

The great migration of bone marrow-derived stem cells toward the ischemic brain: therapeutic implications for stroke and other neurological disorders

Cesar V Borlongan  1 , Loren E Glover, Naoki Tajiri, Yuji Kaneko, Thomas B Freeman
Affiliations
Review

The great migration of bone marrow-derived stem cells toward the ischemic brain: therapeutic implications for stroke and other neurological disorders

Cesar V Borlongan et al. Prog Neurobiol. 2011 Oct.

Abstract

Accumulating laboratory studies have implicated the mobilization of bone marrow (BM)-derived stem cells in brain plasticity and stroke therapy. This mobilization of bone cells to the brain is an essential concept in regenerative medicine. Over the past ten years, mounting data have shown the ability of bone marrow-derived stem cells to mobilize from BM to the peripheral blood (PB) and eventually enter the injured brain. This homing action is exemplified in BM stem cell mobilization following ischemic brain injury. Various BM-derived cells, such as hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and very small embryonic-like cells (VSELs) have been demonstrated to exert therapeutic benefits in stroke. Here, we discuss the current status of these BM-derived stem cells in stroke therapy, with emphasis on possible cellular and molecular mechanisms of action that mediate the cells' beneficial effects in the ischemic brain. When possible, we also discuss the relevance of this therapeutic regimen in other central nervous system (CNS) disorders.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosures/Conflict of Interests: CVB is supported by James and Esther King Foundation for Biomedical Research Program, USF Signature Program in Interdisciplinary Neuroscience, SanBio Inc., Celgene Cellular Therapeutics, KMPHC, NeuralStem Inc., NIH NINDS UO15U01NS055914-04, and NIH NINDS RO1 1R01NS071956-01.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Bone Marrow-Derived Stem Cells. Schematic diagram shows subsets of bone marrow-derived stem cells, including HSCs, MSCs, EPCs, and VSELs, which have been examined in the laboratory and are rapidly being translated into clinical applications as efficacious stem cell source for transplantation therapy in stroke.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Migration of Bone-Marrow Derived Stem Cells in Non-Pathologic Conditions. Under non-pathologic conditions, minute quantities of quinescent bone marrow-derived stem cells mobilize and utilize the CXCR4/SDF-1 signaling pathway to migrate to the brain.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Migration of Endogenous and Exogenous Stem Cells in the Acute and Chronic Phases of Stroke. Quinescent bone marrow-derived stem cells are mobilized and home to the site of injury via the CXCR4/SDF-1 signaling pathway during the acute phase of injury (Panel A). During the chronic stage of injury, the quantity of BM-derived stem cells that are mobilized and home to the ischemic site is greatly decreased (Panel B). Like endogenous stem cells, transplanted stem cells utilize the CXCR4/SDF-1 pathway to migrate to the site of injury during the acute phase of ischemia (Panel C) and the chronic phase of ischemia (Panel D).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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