[Comparison of transplantation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and their derived neural like- progenitors to spinal cord injury rat model with injection]

ABSTRACT

The aim of the present study was to investigate transplantation of MSCs and their-derived Neural like progenitors [NLPs] into the spinal cord after injury and evaluate the survival, migration, differentiation properties of these cells in Rat spinal cord. NLPs were derived from MSCs [induced by bFGF [Fibroblast growth factor b], hEGF [Human Epidermal growth factor] and RA [Retinoic Acid]], and analyzed by flowcytometry and immuno fluorescence staining. MSCs and NLPs injected into model animals vein and collagen scaffold implanted into injured site. Behavioral testing was performed weekly for 5 weeks. Improvement of transplanted animals evaluated after 5 weeks. Unfortunately, Substantial changes were not observed among the rats after the transplantation. Immuno fluorescence staining analysis using human nuclei and BrdU antibodies confirmed survival and migration of hMSCs and NLPs into the injury site. Transplanted cells were found to adjacent segments located rostro-caudaly to the injury epicenter. Our findings indicate that hMSCs and NLPs couldn't facilitate recovery from spinal cord injury. However, these cells can express specific neuronal markers in injured site. There are many questions to be answered regarding this mechanism