Enhanced effect of combining bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) and pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) to promote recovery after spinal cord injury in mice

MedComm, 2022 · DOI: 10.1002/mco2.160 · Published: July 1, 2022

Spinal Cord Injury Regenerative Medicine Neurology

Simple Explanation

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a destructive traumatic disease of the central nervous system with limited effective treatments. This study explores the combined effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) and pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) on SCI recovery in mice. BMMSCs therapy promotes the secretion of neurotrophic factors and axonal regeneration, while PEMF therapy promotes neural growth and regeneration. The combination of these therapies showed better therapeutic effects compared to either therapy alone. The combined therapy increased the expression of nutritional factors, enhanced neuron preservation, and increased axonal growth. PEMF also promoted the expression of BDNF and VEGF in BMMSCs via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Study Duration

8 Weeks

Participants

75 Mice (C57BL/6, female, 6-8 weeks)

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Combinational therapy of BMMSCs and PEMF displayed a more satisfactory effect than BMMSCs and PEMF therapy alone in SCI mice.
2
Combinational therapy increased the expression levels of nutritional factors including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factors (NGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).
3
PEMF promoted the expression levels of BDNF and VEGF in BMMSCs via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Research Summary

This study investigated the combined therapeutic effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) and pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) on spinal cord injury (SCI) in mice. The results showed that the combination of BMMSCs and PEMF displayed a more satisfactory effect than either therapy alone, promoting functional recovery and reducing injury volume in SCI mice. The study also found that PEMF promoted the expression of BDNF and VEGF in BMMSCs in vitro through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, suggesting a potential mechanism for the synergistic effect of the combined therapy.

Practical Implications

Clinical Translation

The combined therapy of BMMSCs and PEMF shows promise for effective SCI treatment in humans.

Therapeutic Strategy

Combining cell-based therapies with physical modalities like PEMF can enhance regenerative outcomes after SCI.

Further Research

Optimization of treatment parameters and exploration of underlying mechanisms are necessary for improving therapeutic effects.

Study Limitations

1
Survival after stem cell transplantation cannot be tracked because the BMMSCs are not labeled.
2
The mechanism of different benefit of combination therapy needs to be further explored.
3
The therapeutic effects of combination therapy is multifaceted.

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