human glial-restricted progenitors

Human glial-restricted progenitors (hGRPs) are lineage-committed neural precursor cells derived from human fetal or pluripotent stem cell sources. These cells are restricted to the glial lineage and can differentiate into astrocytes and oligodendrocytes but not neurons. Their primary mechanism of action is to replace or supplement dysfunctional or lost astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS), thereby supporting neuronal health, restoring myelination, maintaining neurotransmitter homeostasis (such as glutamate uptake via GLT1), and modulating immune responses within the CNS. hGRPs have been investigated preclinically for their ability to survive, migrate, integrate into host tissue after transplantation into animal models of neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), spinal cord injury, demyelinating disorders like transverse myelitis and multiple sclerosis, as well as Rett syndrome. Early clinical studies are ongoing for conditions such as transverse myelitis[2][3][4][5][7][8].

Other names

glial-restricted progenitor cellsGRP cellsglial precursor cells