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SAGE Publications, Cell Transplantation, 8(22), p. 1427-1440, 2013

DOI: 10.3727/096368912x657314

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Therapeutic Potential of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells in Experimental Stroke

This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

Ischemic stroke mainly caused by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) is the major type of stroke, but there are currently very limited therapeutic options for its cure. Neural stem cells (NSCs) or neural precursor cells (NPCs) derived from various sources are known to survive and improve neurological functions when they are engrafted in animal models of stroke. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) generated from somatic cells of patients are novel cells that promise the autologous cell therapy for stroke. In this study, we successfully differentiated iPSCs derived from human fibroblasts into NPCs and found their robust therapeutic potential in a rodent MCAo stroke model. We observed the significant graftinduced behavioral recovery, as well as extensive neural tissue formation. Animal MRI results indicated that the majority of contra-laterally transplanted iPSC-derived NPCs migrated to the peri-infarct area, showing a patho-tropism critical for tissue recovery. The transplanted animals exhibited the significant reduction of stroke-induced inflammatory response, gliosis and apoptosis, and the contribution to the endogenous neurogenesis. Our results demonstrate that iPSC-derived NPCs are effective cells for the treatment of stroke.