Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation combined with edaravone inhibits neuronal apoptosis after cerebral infarction

Haiyan MA

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:Several studies have confirmed that bone marrow mesenchymal stem celltransplantation exerts a certain neuroprotective role in cerebral infarction. Edaravone is a novel potent smal-molecule hydroxyl radical scavenger, which play a protective role in the brain by eliminating free radicals and inhibiting nerve celldamage after cerebral infarction. OBJECTIVE:To explore the influence of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells combined with edaravone on expressions of aquaporin-4, Bcl-2, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor after cerebral infarction in rats. METHODS:Eighty Wistar rats were selected to establish models of cerebral infarction by right middle cerebral artery occlusion, and then randomly divided into control group, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells group, edaravone group and edaravone+bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells group (combination group). After 6 hours of modeling, rats from these four groups were respectively injected via the tail vein with PBS, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, edaravone and edaravone+bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. After 72 hours, the rats were decapitated to take brain tissues. Consequently, expressions of aquaporin-4, Bcl-2, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNA and protein were determined by RT-PCR and western blot methods. After 12, 24 and 36 hours, TUNEL method was used for the determination of cellapoptosis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The expressions of Bcl-2 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor were higher in the combination group than the other three groups (P<0.05), but the expression of aquaporin-4 was lowest in the combination group (P<0.05). The number of apoptotic cells in the combination group was significantly lower than that in the other three groups. These findings suggest that the combination of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and edaravone can improve expressions of Bcl-2 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the injured site, and significantly inhibit neuronal apoptosis. Meanwhile, the combination therapy can decrease expression of aquaporin-4 and mitigate cerebral edema, which is superior to bone marrow mesenchymal stem celltransplantation and edaravone alone.