Neural Stem Cells in Tissue Engineering

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are unique subsets of stem cells with self-renewal and multiple lineage differentiation potential, which are considered promising cell sources for neuron generation and complex cognitive and sensory functions, and the resultant NSC-based cryotherapy for regenerative purposes. Of them, distinguished from the small amount of activated subset, most of the NSCs are maintained in the quiescent state and reveal a low level of metabolic activity but a high sensitivity to the environment. The dynamic balance between quiescence and the activity of NSCs determines both the efficiency of neurogenesis and the long-term maintenance and self-renewal of the NSC pool as well as the neurogenic capacity of the brain. In this chapter, we mainly review the classification and biofunction of NSCs, and introduce the significant progress in the understanding of NSC-based applications and the underlying molecular mechanism for NSC quiescence, the dysfunction in neurogenesis, and the pathogenesis of neurological disorders. Collectively, these data will facilitate the development of NSC-based cytotherapy for a broad spectrum of refractory and recurrent diseases in the future.