From cell death to neuronal regeneration: Building a new brain after traumatic brain injury

During the past decade, there has been accumulating evidence of the involvement of passive and active cell death mechanisms in both the clinical setting and in experimental models of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Traditionally, research for a treatment of TBI consists of strategies to prevent cell death using acute pharmacological therapy. However, to date, encouraging experimental work has not been translated into successful clinical trials. The development of cell replacement therapies may offer an alternative or a complementary strategy for the treatment of TBI. Recent experimental studies have identified a variety of candidate cell lines for transplantation into the injured CNS. Additionally, the characterization of the neurogenic potential of specific regions of the adult mammalian brain and the elucidation of the molecular controls underlying regeneration may allow for the development of neuronal replacement therapies that do not require transplantation of exogenous cells. These novel strategies may represent a new opportunity of great interest for delayed intervention in patients with TBI.