Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Modulate Inflammatory Cytokines after Spinal Cord Injury in Rat

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Lucia Machová Urdzíková¹  Jiří Růžička¹  Michael LaBagnara²  Kristýna Kárová¹  Šárka Kubinová¹  Klára Jiráková¹  Raj Murali²  Eva Syková¹  Meena Jhanwar-Uniyal² 

[1] Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Vídeňská 1083, Prague 14220, Czech Republic; E-Mails:;Department of Neurosurgery, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA; E-Mails:

关键词: mesenchymal stem cells;    spinal cord injury;    inflammatory cytokines;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms150711275

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) improves functional recovery in experimental models of spinal cord injury (SCI); however, the mechanisms underlying this effect are not completely understood. We investigated the effect of intrathecal implantation of human MSC on functional recovery, astrogliosis and levels of inflammatory cytokines in rats using balloon-induced spinal cord compression lesions. Transplanted cells did not survive at the lesion site of the spinal cord; however, functional recovery was enhanced in the MSC-treated group as was confirmed by the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) and the flat beam test. Morphometric analysis showed a significantly higher amount of remaining white matter in the cranial part of the lesioned spinal cords. Immunohistochemical analysis of the lesions indicated the rearrangement of the glial scar in MSC-treated animals. Real-time PCR analysis revealed an increased expression of Irf5, Mrc1, Fgf2, Gap43 and Gfap. Transplantation of MSCs into a lesioned spinal cord reduced TNFα, IL-4, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6 and IL-12 and increased the levels of MIP-1α and RANTES when compared to saline-treated controls. Intrathecal implantation of MSCs reduces the inflammatory reaction and apoptosis, improves functional recovery and modulates glial scar formation after SCI, regardless of cell survival. Therefore, repeated applications may prolong the beneficial effects induced by MSC application.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.