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Stem Cell Therapies for the Resolution of Radiation Injury to the Brain

  • Radiation Biology and Stem Cells (CD Porada and PF Wilson Jr, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of review

The purpose of this review is to encapsulate past and current research efforts focused on stem cell transplantation strategies to resolve radiation-induced cognitive dysfunction.

Recent Findings

Transplantation of human stem cells in the irradiated brain was first shown to resolve radiation-induced cognitive dysfunction in a landmark paper by Acharya et al., appearing in PNAS in 2009. Since that time, work from the same laboratory as well as other groups have reported on the beneficial (as well as detrimental) effects of stem cell grafting after cranial radiation exposure. Improved learning and memory found many months after engraftment has since been associated with a preservation of host neuronal morphology, a suppression of neuroinflammation, improved myelination, and increased cerebral blood flow. Interestingly, many (if not all) of these beneficial effects can be demonstrated by substituting stem cells with microvesicles derived from human stem cells during transplantation, thereby eliminating many of the more long-standing concerns related to immunorejection and teratoma formation.

Summary

Stem cell and microvesicle transplantation into the irradiated brain of rodents has uncovered some unexpected benefits that hold promise for ameliorating many of adverse neurocognitive complications associated with major cancer treatments. Properly developed, such approaches may provide much needed clinical recourse to millions of cancer survivors suffering from the unintended side effects of their cancer therapies.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Acknowledgments

Training grant T32 NS082174 (SMS) and grants from the NINDS 5R01 NS074388 (CLL) and from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency HDTRA 1-13-1-0022 (CLL) supported this work.

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  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Medical Sciences I, Room B-146B, Irvine, CA, 92697-2695, USA

    Sarah M. Smith & Charles L. Limoli

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Correspondence to Charles L. Limoli.

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Sarah M. Smith and Charles L. Limoli declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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All procedures performed in studies involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institution or practice at which the studies were conducted.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Radiation Biology and Stem Cells

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Smith, S.M., Limoli, C.L. Stem Cell Therapies for the Resolution of Radiation Injury to the Brain. Curr Stem Cell Rep 3, 342–347 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40778-017-0105-5

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