FUTURE-PROSPECTS IN TRANSPLANTATION

In multiple sclerosis and experimental demyelination, oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells are able to repair myelin lesions of the central nervous system. Both cell types were successfully transplanted in demyelinated lesions of the adult rat and mouse spinal cord. However, from these studies performed in the absence of cell tracers, little could be concluded about the behavior of the transplanted cells in their host. The recent development of a variety of cell markers has provided the opportunity to investigate cell-cell and cell-substrate interactions during migration of the transplanted cells. Cell tracing should also help to identify the type of lesions and type of cells to be transplanted for myelin repair. In addition, a better understanding of the role of growth factors and their application to transplantation should lead to significant improvement in myelin repair of the lesioned central nervous system.