Neural stem cells -- a versatile tool for cell replacement and gene therapy in the central nervous system

In recent years, it has become evident that the developing and even the adult mammalian central nervous system contains a population of undifferentiated, multipotent cell precursors, neural stem cells, the plastic properties of which might be of advantage for the design of more effective therapies for many neurological diseases. This article reviews the recent progress in establishing rodent and human clonal neural stem cell lines, their biological properties, and how these cells can be utilized to a correct variety of defects, with prospects for the near future to harness their behaviour for neural stem cell-based treatment of diseases in humans.