Glial progenitor cell-based repair of the dysmyelinated brain: Progression to the clinic

Demyelinating disorders of the central white matter are among the most prevalent and disabling conditions in neurology. Since myelin-producing oligodendrocytes comprise the principal cell type deficient or lost in these conditions, their replacement by new cells generated from transplanted bipotential oligodendrocyte-astrocyte progenitor cells has emerged as a therapeutic strategy for a variety of primary dysmyelinating diseases. In this review, we summarize the research and clinical considerations supporting current efforts to bring this treatment approach to patients.