Stem cell therapies for spinal cord injury in humans: A review of recent clinical research

Recently, cell transplantation has emerged as a promising treatment for spinal cord injury (SCI). Over the past decade, numerous clinical studies of SCI have been conducted using various types of cells, including fetal neural stem/progenitor cells (NS/PCs), pluripotent stem cell-derived NS/PCs, mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs), olfactory ensheathing cells, and Schwann cells. Promising results have been reported for patients with subacute SCI, especially in studies involving MSCs, such as those conducted with Stemirac, although no universally recognized breakthroughs have been achieved. Allogenic NS/PCs may offer advantages over autologous MSCs because they have the potential for cell engraftment within the spinal cord and can be prepared in advance, facilitating their administration during the hyperacute phase. Recent advances achieved with induced pluripotent stem cells indicate their promise potential to be used in future therapies. This review provides an overview of recent clinical studies and discusses potential advancements anticipated in the future. • Several clinical trials using stem cells to treat SCI have been conducted. • Developing cell therapies for SCIs is challenging due to its complexity. • Cell therapy plus neurorehabilitation and imaging may lead to new findings.