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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NCStem cells translational medicine

Precision cell therapy: optimizing neural stem/progenitor cell regional identity for enhanced spinal cord repair and regeneration

  • Aysu Kollu1,2
  • Mohammad Khazaei1,3,4
  • Michael G Fehlings1,2,4,5
5 affiliations
  1. 1Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3H2, Canada.
  2. 2Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2S8, Canada.
  3. 3Division of Anatomy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A8, Canada.
  4. 4Division of Neurosurgery and Spine Program, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 1P5, Canada.
  5. 5Division of Neurosurgery, Krembil Neuroscience Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2S8, Canada.
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Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to severe sensorimotor and autonomic impairment, loss of independence, and increased mortality. Despite significant advances in surgical interventions, medical management, and rehabilitative approaches, there are currently no curative or regenerative therapies for SCI. Neural stem/progenitor cell (NSPC) transplantation is recognized as a promising strategy to achieve regeneration of the injured spinal cord due to their ability to replace the neuroglial populations that are lost and to restore the connectivity of neural circuits. The developmental regional identity of NSPCs has emerged as a key characteristic that influences the outcome of preclinical transplantation studies and how well the grafted cells can integrate into host circuitry. In the present review, we focus on NSPC regional identity, and how this fundamental developmental trait can impact the cells' ability to integrate into the injured spinal cord to promote functional recovery. We begin by introducing the developmental basis of spinal cord patterning, describing regional specification along the antero-posterior and dorso-ventral axes. We highlight studies that reveal the importance of NSPC regional identity for spinal cord regeneration. Finally, we discuss the distinct molecular characteristics that define spinal cord NSPCs. Deciphering the molecular determinants that underlie the observed importance of regionally matched grafts requires further study. Specifying NSPC fate toward precise regions of the spinal cord will be a key next step towards precision cell therapies for SCI.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{kollu2026precision,
  title = {{Precision cell therapy: optimizing neural stem/progenitor cell regional identity for enhanced spinal cord repair and regeneration}},
  author = {Aysu Kollu and Mohammad Khazaei and Michael G Fehlings},
  journal = {Stem cells translational medicine},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1093/stcltm/szag088},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13726807},
  note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Precision cell therapy: optimizing neural stem/progenitor cell regional identity for enhanced spinal cord repair and regeneration
AU  - Aysu Kollu
AU  - Mohammad Khazaei
AU  - Michael G Fehlings
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/01
JO  - Stem cells translational medicine
DO  - 10.1093/stcltm/szag088
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13726807
AB  - Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to severe sensorimotor and autonomic impairment, loss of independence, and increased mortality. Despite significant advances in surgical interventions, medical management, and rehabilitative approaches, there are currently no curative or regenerative therapies for SCI. Neural stem/progenitor cell (NSPC) transplantation is recognized as a promising strategy to achieve regeneration of the injured spinal cord due to their ability to replace the neuroglial populations that are lost and to restore the connectivity of neural circuits. The developmental regional identity of NSPCs has emerged as a key characteristic that influences the outcome of preclinical transplantation studies and how well the grafted cells can integrate into host circuitry. In the present review, we focus on NSPC regional identity, and how this fundamental developmental trait can impact the cells' ability to integrate into the injured spinal cord to promote functional recovery. We begin by introducing the developmental basis of spinal cord patterning, describing regional specification along the antero-posterior and dorso-ventral axes. We highlight studies that reveal the importance of NSPC regional identity for spinal cord regeneration. Finally, we discuss the distinct molecular characteristics that define spinal cord NSPCs. Deciphering the molecular determinants that underlie the observed importance of regionally matched grafts requires further study. Specifying NSPC fate toward precise regions of the spinal cord will be a key next step towards precision cell therapies for SCI.
SN  - 2157-6564
SN  - 2157-6580
ER  -