With the help of several inducing factors, somatic cells can be reprogrammed to become induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSCs) lines. The success is in obtaining iPSCs almost identical to embryonic stem cells (ESCs), therefore various approaches have been tested and ultimately several ones have succeeded. The importance of these cells is in how they serve as models to unveil the molecular pathways and mechanisms underlying several human diseases, and also in its potential roles in the development of regenerative medicine. They further aid in the development of regenerative medicine, autologous cell therapy and drug or toxicity screening. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the recent development in the field of iPSCs research, specifically for modeling human neurological and neurodegenerative diseases, and its applications in neurotrauma. These are mainly characterized by progressive functional or structural neuronal loss rendering them extremely challenging to manage. Many of these diseases, including Parkinson’s disease (PD), Huntington’s disease (HD), Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have been explored in vitro. The main purpose is to generate patient-specific iPS cell lines from the somatic cells that carry mutations or genetic instabilities for the aim of studying their differentiation potential and behavior. This new technology will pave the way for future development in the field of stem cell research anticipating its use in clinical settings and in regenerative medicine in order to treat various human diseases, including neurological and neurodegenerative diseases.

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Modeling Human Neurological and Neurodegenerative Diseases: From Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells to Neuronal Differentiation and Its Applications in Neurotrauma.

Transcription factors: Time to deliver.

The treatment of neurodegenerative diseases presents a growing need for innovation in relation to recent evidence in the field of reconstructive therapy using stem cells. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disorders, and the advent of methods able to induce neuronal stem cell differentiation allowed to develop innovative therapeutic approaches offering the prospect of healthy and perfectly functional cell transplants, able to replace the sick ones. Hence the importance of deepening the state of the art regarding the clinical applications of advanced cell therapy products for the regeneration of nerve tissue. Besides representing a promising area of tissue transplant surgery and a great achievement in the field of neurodegenerative disease, stem cell research presents certain critical issues that need to be carefully examined from the ethical perspective. In fact, a subject so complex and not entirely explored requires a detailed scientific and ethical evaluation aimed at avoiding improper and ineffective use, rather than incorrect indications, technical inadequacies, and incongruous expectations. In fact, the clinical usefulness of stem cells will only be certain if able to provide the patient with safe, long-term and substantially more effective strategies than any other treatment available. The present paper provides an ethical assessment of tissue regeneration through mesenchymal stem cells in neurodegenerative diseases with the aim to rule out the fundamental issues related to research and clinical translation.

Mesenchymal stem cells in neurodegenerative diseases: Opinion review on ethical dilemmas

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative motor pathology worldwide, the causes of which are still unclear Currently there is no cure, but it is possible to have different treatments that allow to alleviate some of its symptoms and slow its course Due to the large amount of information, sometimes contradictory, about the so-called "risk factors" (understood as situations that may exacerbate the possibility of the onset of the disease, from family predisposition to prolonged exposure to exogenous substances), in this review aims to provide a current overview of factors associated with the occurrence of PD We also review some treatments that seek to counteract the loss of the dopaminergic function of the substance nigra (SN) and some of the therapeutic approaches both pharmacologically, by deep brain stimulation (DBS) or by cellular implantation Also reviewed investigations on the therapeutic potential of compounds with high specificity to cholinergic receptors (nAChRs) and adenosine receptor antagonists, specifically the A2A subtype Possibly, during the next decades, our knowledge in epigenetics may shed new light on this interaction, as well as on the relationships between certain lines of intestinal microbes and onset of PD At this time, the most effective therapeutic alternative is DBS; however, in the future it is expected that the development of new brain implant strategies may offer a real cure for PD

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La Enfermedad de Parkinson: Etiología, Tratamientos y Factores Preventivos

The role of E2F1-topoIIβ signaling in regulation of cell cycle exit and neuronal differentiation of human SH-SY5Y cells.

https://febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1016/j.febslet.2015.07.023

Mariana Laura Casalia

Papers

Cell reprogramming and neuronal differentiation applied to neurodegenerative diseases: Focus on Parkinson's disease.