Stem Cell-Based Strategies for Prenatal Treatment of Spina Bifida and the Promise of Cell-Free, Minimally Invasive Approaches

Spina bifida (SB) is a severe birth defect that affects 1400 newborns annually in the USA. SB is often diagnosed before irreversible neurological damage occurs, making it possible to exploit the therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapeutics as intervention strategies for neural tissue protection against further damage. Here, we discuss the most recent MSC-based intervention strategies developed to create an in utero pro-regenerative environment. MSCs show potential benefits in the prenatal treatment of SB due to their remarkable healing and protective potential, both in preclinical and clinical studies. While promising, current in utero tissue repair strategies remain highly invasive for the mother and the fetus We provide insights on the mechanisms activated by MSCs in utero and discuss the advantages of MSC-free approaches, as minimally invasive tools capable of functional tissue repair while reducing the limitations of current therapeutics.