Globose basal cells for spinal cord regeneration

Spinal cord injury (SCI) often results in motor and sensory function loss. Cell-based therapies are being explored in preclinical studies. The olfactory epithelium is a neurogenic tissue containing stem/progenitor cells that can be easily accessed for transplantation. Globose basal cells (GBCs) were isolated from rat olfactory epithelium and transplanted into rats with SCI to assess motor recovery and tissue regeneration. Globose basal cells (GBCs) were isolated from rat olfactory epithelium, characterized, and transplanted into injured rat spinal cords. The outcome of transplantation was assessed using behavioral and electrophysiological tests, as well as histological observation. This study found that GBCs express neural stem cell markers, form neurospheres, and differentiate into neuronal cells. GBC-transplanted rats showed improved hindlimb motor recovery and increased muscle electromyography amplitude. GFP-labeled GBCs survived and differentiated into neuron-like cells around the injury site, suggesting that GBCs could be an alternative cell source for autologous neurotransplantation after SCI.

• 1
  Globose basal cells (GBCs) expressed neural stem cell markers (nestin, SOX2, NCAM) and mesenchymal stem cell markers (CD29, CD54, CD90, CD73, CD105).
• 2
  Rats transplanted with GBCs exhibited hindlimb motor recovery, as confirmed by increased BBB scores and increased gastrocnemius muscle electromyography amplitude compared to controls.
• 3
  Green fluorescent protein labelled GBCs survived around the injury epicenter and differentiated into βIII tubulin-immunoreactive neuron-like cells.