Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
control the proliferation of NPCs, and as mentioned above, seems to be involved
in growth-cone guidance. Furthermore, migration of corneal epithelial cells in an
EF was not possible at low EF strength unless growth factors such as EGF, bFGF
and TGF -
1 were used (Zhao et al. 1996). Finally, calcium channels also seem to
be involved in the differentiation of NPCs into neurons. When L-type Ca
2+
chan-
nels are blocked the rate of differentiation into neurons (TUJ1
+
/MAP2ab
+
)
decreases (D'Ascenzo et al. 2006). Speculation provides possible routes for EF to
infl uence NPC differentiation. Once these routes are investigated, a mechanism
for the differentiation of NPCs in an EF will be even more rigorous to establish
than that of mature neurons, because differentiation is also complex and not well
understood.
β
18.8 CONCLUSIONS
If the differentiation of NPCs were completely controllable and the use of electri-
cal stimulation to treat CNS damage continues to improve, then cell-based and
electrical-stimulatory therapies should be developed in the near future. The use
of electrical stimulation as a therapeutic tool is already showing promising results
in clinical trials by improving recovery in SCI patients (Shapiro et al. 2005). NPC-
based therapies are also being investigated, but more progress is needed before
clinical trials can be undertaken. Once NPC proliferation, growth and differentia-
tion are completely understood, cell-based clinical trials can begin. The use of
NPCs as a cell-based therapy has enormous potential to treat cases where neural
cell damage occurs. Despite the complexity in understanding how electrical stim-
ulation affects the CNS cells, understanding how NPCs may be used in combina-
tion with electrical stimulation is worthwhile. Combing these two fi elds of research
could produce techniques that treat injury or disease in the CNS.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Authors would like to thank NSF-AGEP and NIH (RO1GM072005) for fi nancial
support.
DEDICATION (by Carlos Atico Ariza)
I dedicate this work to my family, especially … my father, Atico Ariza, who
despite a short life full of hardship and turmoil, provided our family with every-
thing we needed. My mother, widowed seven years after my birth, has taught me
exceptional lessons that have lasted throughout my life. Finally, to the only
grandmother I have known, Amalia Mercader Arrien, who has changed the lives
of many, including my father, by being a compassionate and benevolent person.
Search WWH ::
Custom Search