神经干细胞及其临床应用潜能

近年来神经干细胞已在成年哺乳动物中的中枢神经系统中分离成功。神经干细胞的最基本特征是具有分化为神经元、星状胶质细胞和少突胶质细胞的潜能，具有自我更新能力，并足以维持整个大脑所需。神经干细胞在修复受伤神经组织及治疗神经系统退行性疾病，如帕金森病、阿尔茨海默病、和亨庭顿病等方面有很好的应用前景。但在达到临床实际应用之前仍有一系列问题需要解决，最首要的是搞清神经干细胞的分化机制。

Neural stem cells and their clinical application potential

Neural stem cells (NSCs) have been isolated and identified from adult mamalian central nervous system (CNS) in the recent years. To be considered a stem cell in the CNS, a cell must has the potential to differentiate into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes and to self-renew sufficiently to provide the numbers of cells in the brain. The potential uses of NSCs are manifold, particularly in treatment of neural degenerative diseases, such as Parkinsons disease, and in repairment of neural damage. The mechanisms that control the differentiation and proliferation of NSCs must be worked out before they could be applied clinically.