Factors affecting directional migration of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to the injured spinal cord

This study investigates how bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) migrate to the site of a spinal cord injury and how this migration can be influenced. The research focuses on the role of a protein called microtubule-associated protein 1B (MAP1B) and its phosphorylated form (P1-MAP1B) in directing this migration. The study also examines the involvement of specific signaling pathways (PI3K and ERK1/2) in regulating the phosphorylation of MAP1B and, consequently, the efficiency of BMSC migration towards the injured spinal cord.

• 1
  The expression of P1-MAP1B in BMSCs is affected by okadaic acid (a protein phosphatase 2A inhibitor) and N-acetyl-D-erythro-sphingosine (a protein phosphatase 2A stimulator).
• 2
  The migration of BMSCs to the injured spinal cord is poorer in cells exposed to okadaic acid and N-acetyl-D-erythro-sphingosine compared to untreated cells.
• 3
  Inhibiting PI3K leads to an elevated expression of P1-MAP1B, while inhibiting ERK1/2 causes a reduction in expression.