This review explores the transformative role of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and organoids in advancing neuropathology research. Focused on Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and spinal cord injury, iPSCs offer patient-specific disease modeling with regenerative therapy potential. The versatility of iPSCs, their ability to differentiate into the main neuronal cell types, and their integration into three-dimensional organoid models enable the recreation of complex tissues in vitro. Improvement of organoid and iPSCs generation protocols and the selection of appropriate donor cell types are highlighted as crucial steps toward the application of these new technologies to overcome tumorigenic potential and other challenges. iPSCs demonstrate promise in regenerative therapies, as evidenced by successful applications in animal models.

: Rasmussen’s encephalitis (RE) stands as a rare neurological disorder marked by progressive cerebral hemiatrophy and epilepsy resistant to medical treatment. Despite extensive study, the primary cause of RE remains elusive, while its histopathological features encompass cortical inflammation, neuronal degeneration, and gliosis. The underlying molecular mechanisms driving disease progression remain largely unexplored. In this case study, we present a patient with RE who underwent hemispherectomy and has remained seizure-free for over six months, experiencing gradual motor improvement. Further-more, we conducted molecular analysis on the excised brain tissue, unveiling a decrease in the expres-sion of cell cycle-associated genes coupled with elevated levels of BDNF and TNF-α proteins. These findings suggest potential involvement of cell cycle regulators in the progression of RE.

Graphene nanoplatelets (UGZ-1004) are advancing as a promising biomaterial for regenerative medicine. This study provides a detailed assessment of UGZ-1004, emphasizing its physical properties, cytotoxicity, intracellular interactions, and particularly its effects on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). UGZ-1004 was characterized to have lateral sizes and layer counts in line with ISO standards and exhibited high carbon purity (0.08%). Cytotoxicity evaluations demonstrated that UGZ-1004 is non-toxic to various cell lines, including fibroblast 3T3, epithelial kidney VERO, microglia BV-2, and MSCs, in accordance with ISO-10993-5/2020/2023 guidelines. The study focused on MSCs, revealing that UGZ-1004 supports their self-renewal and proliferation. MSCs exposed to UGZ-1004 maintained their characteristic surface markers and proliferation rates. Importantly, UGZ-1004 promoted significant upregulation of genes crucial for cell cycle regulation and DNA repair, such as CDK1, CDK2, and MDM2. This gene expression profile suggests that UGZ-1004 enhances MSC self-renewal capabilities, ensuring robust cellular function and longevity. Moreover, UGZ-1004 exposure led to the downregulation of genes associated with tumor development, including CCND1 and TFDP1, mitigating potential tumorigenic risks. These findings underscore the potential of UGZ-1004 to not only bolster MSC proliferation but also enhance their self-renewal processes, which are critical for effective regenerative therapies. The study highlights the need for continued research into the long-term impacts of graphene nanoplatelets and their application in MSC-based regenerative medicine.

It has been widely established that the characterization of extracellular vesicles (EVs), particularly small EVs (sEVs), shed by different cell types into biofluids, helps identify biomarkers and therapeutic targets in neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. Recent studies are also exploring the efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles naturally enriched with therapeutic microRNAs and proteins for treating various diseases. Besides, EVs released by various neural cells play a crucial function in the modulation of signal transmission in the brain in physiological conditions. However, in pathological conditions, such EVs can facilitate the spread of pathological proteins from one brain region to the other. On the other hand, analysis of EVs in biofluids can identify sensitive biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and disease progression. This review discusses the potential therapeutic use of stem cell-derived EVs in several central nervous system diseases. It lists their differences and similarities and confers various studies exploring EVs as biomarkers. Further advances in EV research in the coming years will likely lead to the routine use of EVs in therapeutic settings.