Bone Marrow-Derived Cells and Peripheral Nerve Injury: Translational Implications for Pain and Regeneration Treatments

Abstract

Traumatic injury of peripheral nerves is a serious concern for both patients and clinicians, and is commonly associated to neuropathicpain and complete or partial loss of functionality of the affected limb. Stem cell therapy has emerged as a promising tool to improvethe outcome of patients with peripheral nerve injury, and an increasing number of pre-clinical and clinical studies are adding supporttowards their use in humans. In the present review, we will address specifically the participation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC;including a group of multipotent adult progenitor cells (MAP)) and bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMC, a heterogeneousfraction that contains BMSC populations, among others), both of endogenous origin or exogenously transplanted, for the control ofpain and the improvement of regeneration. We will describe the state-of-the-art knowledge on the cellular and molecularmechanisms involved in the action of BMSC and BMMC during traumatic injury of nerves. Finally, we will address the translationalimplications that may eventually lead to therapeutic options for humans.