Advances in the Research of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in the Treatment of Maxillofacial Neurological Disorders and the Promotion of Facial Nerve Regeneration.

Abstract

Maxillofacial neurological disorders include a range of disorders affecting the cranial nerves, which can be caused by a variety of reasons, including infection, trauma, tumor, and surgical complications, resulting in severe dysfunction, and the study of new approaches for the treatment of these disorders is crucial for the restoration of sensory and motor functions of the face. In recent years, due to the excellent tissue regenerative ability of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), research on MSCs and MSC-derived exosomes has been progressively deepened, bringing many new perspectives to the therapeutic strategies for many diseases. Facial nerve regeneration is a complex process involving various pathophysiological mechanisms and therapeutic strategies to restore nerve function after injury. And the rapid development of stem cell tissue engineering has greatly facilitated the research process of facial nerve regeneration. In this paper, we review the characteristics of MSCs and neural stem cells (NSCs), the roles they play in the neural microenvironment and the mechanisms that promote nerve regeneration, summarize the research progress of MSCs in the treatment of maxillofacial neurological disorders, and highlight the promising directions for future development.