Progress and prospects in neurorehabilitation: clinical applications of stem cells and brain–computer interface for spinal cord lesions

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a disease that affects millions of people worldwide, causing a temporary or permanent impairment of neuromotor functions. Mostly associated to traumatic lesions, but also to other forms of disease, the appropriate treatment is still unsure. In this review, several ongoing studies are presented that aim to provide methods of prevention that ensure quality of life, and rehabilitation trends to patients who suffer from this injury. Stem cell research, highlighted in this review, seeks to reduce damage caused to the tissue, as also provide spinal cord regeneration through the application of several types of stem cells. On the other hand, research using brain–computer interface (BCI) technology proposes the development of interfaces based on the interaction of neural networks with artificial tools to restore motor control and full mobility of the injured area. PubMed, MEDLINE and SciELO data basis analyses were performed to identify studies published from 2000 to date, which describe the link between SCI with stem cells and BCI technology.

[1]  H. Keirstead,et al.  Stem cells and spinal cord regeneration. , 2009, Current opinion in biotechnology.

[2]  Fred H. Gage,et al.  Therapeutic interventions after spinal cord injury , 2006, Nature Reviews Neuroscience.

[3]  Sérgio Paulo Bydlowski,et al.  Características biológicas das células-tronco mesenquimais , 2009 .

[4]  Jyh-Yeong Chang,et al.  Gaming control using a wearable and wireless EEG-based brain-computer interface device with novel dry foam-based sensors , 2012, Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation.

[5]  Justin C. Sanchez,et al.  A Symbiotic Brain-Machine Interface through Value-Based Decision Making , 2011, PloS one.

[6]  Andrés Hurtado,et al.  Stem Cell-Based Therapies for Spinal Cord Injury , 2009, The journal of spinal cord medicine.

[7]  R. Cavaglieri,et al.  Células-tronco do líquido amniótico , 2009 .

[8]  C. Ide,et al.  Bone marrow stromal cells enhance differentiation of cocultured neurosphere cells and promote regeneration of injured spinal cord , 2003, Journal of neuroscience research.

[9]  S. Dunnett,et al.  Human stem cells for CNS repair , 2007, Cell and Tissue Research.

[10]  Nicholas G Hatsopoulos,et al.  The science of neural interface systems. , 2009, Annual review of neuroscience.

[11]  S. Minger,et al.  Progress and prospects: stem cells and neurological diseases , 2011, Gene Therapy.

[12]  M D O'Brien,et al.  Spinal Cord Injury: Progress, Promise and Priorities , 2006 .

[13]  Vera Kaiser,et al.  Switching between Manual Control and Brain-Computer Interface Using Long Term and Short Term Quality Measures , 2011, Front. Neurosci..

[14]  Monica A. Perez,et al.  Neural interface technology for rehabilitation: exploiting and promoting neuroplasticity. , 2010, Physical medicine and rehabilitation clinics of North America.

[15]  A. Nowitzke,et al.  Autologous olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation in human spinal cord injury. , 2005, Brain : a journal of neurology.

[16]  L. Cohen,et al.  Brain–computer interfaces: communication and restoration of movement in paralysis , 2007, The Journal of physiology.

[17]  Pavel Musienko,et al.  Multi-system neurorehabilitative strategies to restore motor functions following severe spinal cord injury , 2012, Experimental Neurology.

[18]  C. Neuper,et al.  Combining Brain–Computer Interfaces and Assistive Technologies: State-of-the-Art and Challenges , 2010, Front. Neurosci..

[19]  Brian J Cummings,et al.  Human Neural Stem Cells Differentiate and Promote Locomotor Recovery in an Early Chronic Spinal coRd Injury NOD-scid Mouse Model , 2010, PloS one.

[20]  M. Carpenter,et al.  Human embryonic stem cells differentiate into oligodendrocytes in high purity and myelinate after spinal cord transplantation , 2005, Glia.

[21]  B. Zörner,et al.  Motor deficits and recovery in rats with unilateral spinal cord hemisection mimic the Brown-Sequard syndrome. , 2011, Brain : a journal of neurology.

[22]  Klaus-Robert Müller,et al.  The Berlin Brain-Computer Interface (BBCI) – towards a new communication channel for online control in gaming applications , 2007, Multimedia Tools and Applications.

[23]  Nicholas G Hatsopoulos,et al.  Incorporating Feedback from Multiple Sensory Modalities Enhances Brain–Machine Interface Control , 2010, The Journal of Neuroscience.

[24]  Miguel A. L. Nicolelis,et al.  Principles of neural ensemble physiology underlying the operation of brain–machine interfaces , 2009, Nature Reviews Neuroscience.

[25]  O. Poveschenko,et al.  Transplantation treatment of spinal cord injury patients. , 2003, Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie.

[26]  G. Pfurtscheller,et al.  ‘Thought’ – control of functional electrical stimulation to restore hand grasp in a patient with tetraplegia , 2003, Neuroscience Letters.

[27]  R. Palma,et al.  An experimental model for the transplantation of fetal central nervous system cells to the injured spinal cord in rats. , 2002, Revista do Hospital das Clinicas.

[28]  Miguel A. L. Nicolelis,et al.  A Brain-Machine Interface Instructed by Direct Intracortical Microstimulation , 2009, Front. Integr. Neurosci..

[29]  Shamim Nemati,et al.  Biomimetic Brain Machine Interfaces for the Control of Movement , 2007, The Journal of Neuroscience.

[30]  Miguel A. L. Nicolelis,et al.  Brain–machine interfaces: past, present and future , 2006, Trends in Neurosciences.

[31]  M. Kassem,et al.  Human mesenchymal stem cells: from basic biology to clinical applications , 2008, Gene Therapy.

[32]  J. Peduzzi,et al.  Olfactory Mucosal Autografts and Rehabilitation for Chronic Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury , 2010, Neurorehabilitation and neural repair.

[33]  V. Koliatsos,et al.  Extensive Neuronal Differentiation of Human Neural Stem Cell Grafts in Adult Rat Spinal Cord , 2007, PLoS medicine.

[34]  G. Moviglia,et al.  Combined protocol of cell therapy for chronic spinal cord injury. Report on the electrical and functional recovery of two patients. , 2006, Cytotherapy.

[35]  Michael L. Platt,et al.  What can developmental and comparative cognitive neuroscience tell us about the adult human brain? , 2009, Current Opinion in Neurobiology.

[36]  Amit N. Patel,et al.  Feasibility of combination allogeneic stem cell therapy for spinal cord injury: a case report , 2010, International archives of medicine.

[37]  Mikhail A Lebedev,et al.  Future developments in brain-machine interface research , 2011, Clinics.

[38]  Dennis A. Turner,et al.  The development of brain-machine interface neuroprosthetic devices , 2011, Neurotherapeutics.

[39]  Jon A. Mukand,et al.  Neuronal ensemble control of prosthetic devices by a human with tetraplegia , 2006, Nature.

[40]  R. Andersen,et al.  Selecting the signals for a brain–machine interface , 2004, Current Opinion in Neurobiology.

[41]  Nicholas G. Hatsopoulos,et al.  2009 Special Issue: Exploiting multiple sensory modalities in brain-machine interfaces , 2009 .

[42]  Z. Sobani,et al.  Stem cells for spinal cord regeneration: Current status , 2010, Surgical neurology international.

[43]  Ján Rosocha,et al.  Transplants of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improve Functional Recovery After Spinal Cord Injury in the Rat , 2006, Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology.

[44]  Sang-Ho Lee,et al.  Cervical disc herniation as a cause of brown-séquard syndrome. , 2009, Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society.

[45]  J. Donoghue,et al.  Brain–Machine and Brain–Computer Interfaces , 2004, Stroke.

[46]  Oswald Steward,et al.  Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cell Transplants Remyelinate and Restore Locomotion after Spinal Cord Injury , 2005, The Journal of Neuroscience.

[47]  D. McTigue,et al.  Bone marrow transplants provide tissue protection and directional guidance for axons after contusive spinal cord injury in rats , 2004, Experimental Neurology.

[48]  G. R. Muller,et al.  Brain oscillations control hand orthosis in a tetraplegic , 2000, Neuroscience Letters.

[49]  Y. Li,et al.  Influence of patients' age on functional recovery after transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells into injured spinal cord injury. , 2003, Chinese medical journal.

[50]  R. Marcon,et al.  Spinal cord regeneration: the action of neurotrophin-3 in spinal cord injury in rats. , 2006, Clinics.

[51]  Hansjörg Scherberger,et al.  Neural control of motor prostheses , 2009, Current Opinion in Neurobiology.

[52]  Yi Wei Zhang,et al.  Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells derived from human embryonic stem cells express neurotrophic factors. , 2006, Stem cells and development.

[53]  A. Doud,et al.  Continuous Three-Dimensional Control of a Virtual Helicopter Using a Motor Imagery Based Brain-Computer Interface , 2011, PloS one.

[54]  Markus Rudin,et al.  Functional and Anatomical Reorganization of the Sensory-Motor Cortex after Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury in Adult Rats , 2009, The Journal of Neuroscience.

[55]  Dndª. Lisiane Weber Oliveira.  Muito além do nosso eu: a nova neurociência que une cérebro e máquinas — e como ela pode mudar nossas vidas , 2012 .

[56]  Nitish V. Thakor,et al.  Plasticity associated changes in cortical somatosensory evoked potentials following spinal cord injury in rats , 2011, 2011 Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society.