Human dental pulp stem cells for spinal cord injury.

Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious neurological disorder that causes loss of mobility, pain, and autonomic dysfunction, resulting in altered sensation and devastating loss of function. Current treatments for SCI mainly focus on surgery and drug therapy to promote neurological recovery. However, there are virtually no effective remedies for irreversible nerve damage that result in a victim's loss of motor function and sensory changes that occur after an injury. With the continuous development of medical technology, stem-cell-based regenerative medicine provides researchers with new treatment ideas. The effectiveness of mesenchymal stem cells and their derivatives from different sources in treating SCI varies. Recent studies have highlighted that dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) may contribute to anti-inflammatory regulation, anti-apoptotic regulation, and axonal regeneration in the treatment of SCI patients. In addition, the combination of new biomaterials and dental pulp stem cells is promising in the treatment of SCI. This article reviews the role of DPSCs in SCI treatment in recent years, discusses the advantages of DPSCs, explores potential development directions, and looks forward to providing new insights for future research in this critical field.