Neural Progenitor Cells for Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injury: Endogenous Cell Rescue Versus Replacement Mechanisms

Neural progenitor cells possess the qualities of all progenitor cells (that is, multipotency and the capacity for self-renewal). In culture, they differentiate into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. In the adult central nervous system (CNS), there are endogenous reserves of neural stem cells. These endogenous cells (as well as transplanted cells) represent a promising target for reparative treatment strategies for traumatic brain and spinal cord injury. Current research involves exploring ways to affect the endogenous neural stem cell reserve after injury and effects and potential mechanisms of transplantation of embryonic or adult neural stem cells or both. In this chapter, we review cell types in the CNS relevant to neural stem cell therapy, endogenous neural stem cell reserves, ways to promote endogenous stem cell reserves after injury, and purported mechanisms of embryonic and adult neural stem cell therapy.