MULTIPOTENT NEURAL PROGENITOR OR STEM-LIKE CELLS MAY BE UNIQUELY SUITED FOR THERAPY FOR SOME NEURODEGENERATIVE CONDITIONS

Multipotent neural progenitors or stem cells (or cells which mimic the ir behavior) are capable of differentiating along multiple central ner vous system (CNS) cell-type lineages, neuronal and glial. They can eng raft as integral members of normal structures throughout the host CNS without disturbing other neurobiological processes. By exploiting thei r basic biologic properties, these cells may be able to disseminate th erapeutic gene products in a sustained, direct fashion throughout the CNS. In addition, they may replace dysfunctional neurons and glia in b oth a site-specific and global manner. They may play a therapeutic rol e in neurodegenerative conditions that occur both during development a nd in the mature brain. The ability of neural stem cells to respond to neurogenic cues not only when they occur during their normal developm ental expression but even when induced or ''reactivated'' at later sta ges following injury, may enhance their utility in reconstituting dama ged CNS regions. Thus, these vehicles may overcome many of the limitat ions of viral and non-neural cellular vectors, as well as pharmacologi c and genetic interventions. The feasibility of this broadly applicabl e neural stem cell-based strategy has been demonstrated in a number of murine models of neurodegenerative disease. The focus of this review will be our recent observation of a possible tropism of such cells for neurodegenerative environments. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.