Human Mesenchymal Cells from Adipose Tissue Deposit Laminin and Promote Regeneration of Injured Spinal Cord in Rats

This study investigates how human adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (hADSCs) can help repair spinal cord injuries in rats. The cells were injected directly into the injured area of the spinal cord. The research found that hADSCs promoted significant recovery of movement, protected the spinal cord tissue, and encouraged the regrowth of nerve fibers. A key finding was the abundant presence of a protein called laminin, produced by the human cells, in the injured area. Researchers suggest that laminin, known for supporting nerve growth and being part of the environment where nerve cells develop, might be the factor that helps hADSCs repair spinal cord injuries.

• 1
  hADSCs promote complete recovery of motor function after 8 weeks, while improving tissue preservation, restricting inflammation and stimulating axonal growth.
• 2
  hADSCs secrete human laminin, which accumulates in the spinal cord and increases the presence of neural precursors in the tissue.
• 3
  hADSCs induced an increase in cellularity at the lesion site and in clusters distributed along the spinal midline above the central canal; cells in the clusters expressed markers of neural precursors.