Improvement of neurological function in rats with spinal cord injury after the transplantation of neural stem cells directly differentiated from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells / 中华器官移植杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the effect and mechanism of the neurological function recovery in rats with spinal cord injury (SCI) rats after the transplantation of neural stem cells which are directly differentiated from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC), and to investigate the suitable engraftment time.Methods The BMSC at 3rd passage were differentiated into neural stem cells (NSC), and immunofluorescence staining was used to identify the NSC. The oriented-induced cells were labeled with Brdu 3 days before they were transplanted, and they were slowly injected into the injured site of the SCI rats. The SCI rats were randomly divided into group Ⅰ (transplantation at first week postinjury), group Ⅱ (transplantation at 2nd week postinjury) and control group (the operation was the same as group Ⅰ, but the cell suspension was replaced by the equal volume of normal saline). The BBB scores after transplantation were recorded. The distribution and differentiation of transplanted cells were observed by using immunofluorescence staining with antibodies against Brdu combined with Nestion and Brdu combined with NF200. NF200 immunofluorescence staining was used to show the regeneration of nerve fibers. The pathological changes of the injured site were observed by HE staining.Results The nestin expression was positive after the BMSC were differentiated for 3 days, and if the induced spherical cells were cultured continuously, the different levels of NF200 and GFAP were found. BBB scores in group Ⅰ and group Ⅱ were significantly higher than in control group (P<0.05), especially in group Ⅰ. The immunofluorescence showed that a large number of Brdu and Nestin double-positive cells and some Brdu and NF200 double-positive cells filled the injured site and linked the two sides of the injured area in group Ⅰ and group Ⅱ, and the lesion area of the spinal cord was reduced as compared with control group (P<0.05). More importantly, further reduction in lesion area and improvement in neurological function were observed in group Ⅰ.Conclusion The BMSC can be differentiated into NSC. The transplantation of the NSC could effectively promote the nerve function recovery after SCI, and the effect of transplantation at first week postinjury was better than at 2nd week postinjury.