Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2024, Vol. 28 ›› Issue (19): 3090-3096.doi: 10.12307/2024.145

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Strategies and advance on stem cell transplantation for repair of spinal cord injury

He Wanyu1, Cheng Leping1, 2   

  1. 1Institute of Neuroscience and Guangxi Key Laboratory of Brain Science, Guangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory of Basic Research on Brain Function and Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China; 2Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-Related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, Nanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
  • Received:2023-03-16 Accepted:2023-04-28 Online:2024-07-08 Published:2023-09-26
  • Contact: Cheng Leping, PhD, Professor, Master’s supervisor, Doctoral supervisor, Institute of Neuroscience and Guangxi Key Laboratory of Brain Science, Guangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory of Basic Research on Brain Function and Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China; Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-Related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, Nanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
  • About author:He Wanyu, Master candidate, Institute of Neuroscience and Guangxi Key Laboratory of Brain Science, Guangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory of Basic Research on Brain Function and Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 32070976 (to CLP); Science and Technology Program of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, No. AD21075052 (to CLP)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Spinal cord injury not only causes serious physical and psychological injuries to patients but also brings a heavy economic burden to society. Spinal cord injury is initially triggered by mechanical trauma, followed by secondary injuries, and as the disease progresses, a glial scar develops.  
OBJECTIVE: To summarize the pathological process of spinal cord injury and strategies for stem cell transplantation to repair spinal cord injury, aiming to provide the best protocol for treating spinal cord injury.  
METHODS: Computer search was used to search PubMed and CNKI databases. Chinese search terms were “stem cell transplantation, spinal cord injury”. English search terms were “stem cell, spinal cord injury, spinal cord, mesenchymal stem cells, neural stem cells, pathophysiology, clinical trial, primary injury, secondary injury”. The literature was screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Finally, 91 articles were included for review analysis. 
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The strategies for repairing spinal cord injury through stem cell transplantation can be divided into exogenous stem cell transplantation and endogenous stem cell transplantation. The exogenous stem cell transplantation strategy for the treatment of spinal cord injury is divided into four kinds: injecting stem cells into the site of injury; transplantation of biomaterials loaded with stem cells; fetal tissue transplantation; transplantation of engineered neural network tissue or spinal cord-like tissue. (2) Compared with a single treatment method, combination therapy can more effectively promote nerve regeneration and spinal cord function recovery. (3) Microenvironment regulating the injury site, magnetic stimulation, electrical stimulation, epidural oscillating electric field stimulation, transcription factor overexpression and rehabilitation therapy can be combined with stem cell transplantation for combination therapy, thereby promoting the recovery of spinal cord function.

Key words: spinal cord injury, primary injury, secondary injury, glial scar, stem cell transplantation, biomaterial, mesenchymal stem cell, combination therapy

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