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World J Stem Cells. Apr 26, 2014; 6(2): 179-194
Published online Apr 26, 2014. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v6.i2.179
Neurotrauma and mesenchymal stem cells treatment: From experimental studies to clinical trials
Ana Maria Blanco Martinez, Camila de Oliveira Goulart, Bruna dos Santos Ramalho, Júlia Teixeira Oliveira, Fernanda Martins Almeida
Ana Maria Blanco Martinez, Camila de Oliveira Goulart, Bruna dos Santos Ramalho, Júlia Teixeira Oliveira, Fernanda Martins Almeida, Laboratory of Neurodegeneration and Repair, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Health Science Center, 21941-902, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Ana Maria Blanco Martinez, Camila de Oliveira Goulart, Bruna dos Santos Ramalho, Fernanda Martins Almeida, Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Fernanda Martins Almeida, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Campus Macaé, 27930-560, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Author contributions: Martinez AMB and Almeida FM conceived and designed the manuscript; all authors contributed equally to the acquisition and analysis of data and the manuscript writing; Martinez AMB and Almeida FM revised and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Ana Maria Blanco Martinez, MD, PhD, Laboratory of Neurodegeneration and Repair, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Health Science Center, bloco F - sala 12, 21941-902, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. martinez@histo.ufrj.br
Telephone: +55-21-25626431 Fax: +55-21-25626431
Received: October 29, 2013
Revised: February 26, 2014
Accepted: March 11, 2014
Published online: April 26, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: Basic and pre-clinical studies have highlighted the positive effects of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) treatment after spinal cord injury (SCI) and nerve trauma. There are many pre-clinical studies on MSC treatment for SCI and nerve injuries. However, the same is not true for clinical trials, particularly those concerned with nerve trauma. As for clinical trials for SCI, the results obtained so far are not as beneficial as those described in experimental studies. For these reasons basic and pre-clinical studies dealing with MSC therapy should emphasize the standardization of protocols that could be translated to the clinical set with consistent and positive outcomes.