Tang Bor Luen
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Rev Neurosci. 2017 Oct 26;28(7):725-738. doi: 10.1515/revneuro-2017-0018.
Recent clinical trials of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation have demonstrated procedural safety and clinical proof of principle with a modest indication of benefit in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). While replacement therapy remained unrealistic, the clinical efficacy of this therapeutic option could be potentially enhanced if we could better decipher the mechanisms underlying some of the beneficial effects of transplanted cells, and work toward augmenting or combining these in a strategic manner. Novel ways whereby MSCs could act in modifying disease progression should also be explored. In this review, I discuss the known, emerging and postulated mechanisms of action underlying effects that transplanted MSCs may exert to promote motor neuron survival and/or to encourage regeneration in ALS. I shall also speculate on how transplanted cells may alter the diseased environment so as to minimize non-neuron cell autonomous damages by immune cells and astrocytes.
近期间充质干细胞（MSCs）移植的临床试验已证明了其操作安全性及临床原理依据，对肌萎缩侧索硬化症（ALS）患者有一定程度的益处。虽然替代疗法仍不现实，但如果我们能更好地解读移植细胞某些有益作用的潜在机制，并以战略方式努力增强或结合这些机制，那么这种治疗选择的临床疗效可能会得到潜在提高。还应探索MSCs作用于改变疾病进展的新途径。在本综述中，我将讨论移植的MSCs可能发挥作用以促进ALS患者运动神经元存活和/或促进再生的已知、新出现及推测的作用机制。我还将推测移植细胞如何改变患病环境，以尽量减少免疫细胞和星形胶质细胞对非神经元细胞自主的损害。
