A narrative review on the role of stem cell therapy in stroke treatment: Current advances, mechanisms, and future prospects

Abstract

Stroke is a neurological condition characterized by blood vessel obstruction, leading to localized loss of brain function and associated neurological manifestations. Fatal cases of stroke are underrepresented in case-control studies compared to incident cases attributed to common causes. Hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes make up the primary classifications of stroke. This review describes the most recent findings on stem cells and how they can be used to treat stroke in people with serious illnesses. It highlights the potential of stem cells in stroke rehabilitation and gives an overview of their various forms and mechanisms of action. Stem cells promote stroke recovery through diverse pathways, depending on the cell type employed. Recent advancements in cell therapy for stroke include different stem cell sources, application methods, modification of culturing media and stem cells ex vivo, stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles, and 3D bioprocessing methods. Pre-clinical and clinical trials are important in assessing the effectiveness of the therapy, as the effect varies among individuals. Data were collected from different trials, highlighting the need for further advancements in stem cell therapy to improve its outcomes for treating stroke.

Keywords

Stroke / Stem cells / Mesenchymal stem cells / Clinical trials / Bioprocessing methods

Funding

None.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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