Low Immunogenic Potential of Human Neural Stem Cells

Grafting of neural stem cells into the mammalian central nervous system (CNS) has been performed for some decades now, both in basic research and clinical applications for neurological disorders such as Parkinson's and Huntington's disease, stroke, and spinal cord injuries. Albeit the “proof of principle” status that neural grafts can reinstate functional deficits and rebuild damaged neuronal circuitries, many critical roadblocks have still to be overcome to reach clinical applications. Among these are the manifold immunological aspects that are encountered during the graft–host interaction in vivo. In this chapter we will elucidate different aspects of cellular therapy, particularly using CNS derived stem cells and their ability to modulate immune system in order to avoid rejection and/or affect inflammatory reactions related to neurodegenerative diseases.