| Adult bone marrow derived, multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been shown to exhibit support nerve regeneration by secreting neurotrophic factors typically produced by Schwann cells. However, MSCs have limited expansion capacity, and therefore have limited lifespan and use.;Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can potentially overcome this drawback---iPSCs are adult cells reprogrammed with pluripotency factors to become like embryonic stem cells. Thus, MSCs may be taken from a patient and reprogrammed into iPSCs, such that their expansion capacity is virtually unlimited. After expansion, the iPSCs can be differentiated once again into mesenchymally-derived induced mesenchymal progenitor cells (MiMPCs). This technology has the potential to yield an almost unlimited supply of MSC-like cells. |
