The role of endogenous neural stem cells in stroke

Stroke is the 4th leading cause of death and the leading cause of severe long-term disability worldwide, with no effective treatment for most cases. The development of new effective therapies is needed to improve functional neurological recovery in stroke patients. Researches in experimental stroke in animal models over the past decade demonstrate that ischemic stroke enhances endogenous neural stem cells proliferation in SVZ and SGZ and promotes SVZ NSCs migration to the ischemic infarct site, differentiation into functional mature neurons. Ischemic injury triggers endogenous neural stem cell proliferation by a variety of growth factors, morphogens and neurotransmitters. Neuroblast migration occurs through SDF-1, MCP-1, MMP production and through association with vasculature and endothelial cells. These promising findings in stroke have brought hope to the development of neurorestorative therapy which aims to enhance endogenous neurogenesis after ischemic stroke and thereby contribute to the functional recovery.