Injection of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells by intravenous or intraperitoneal routes is a viable alternative to spinal cord injury treatment in mice

Neural Regen Res, 2018 · DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.233448 · Published: June 1, 2018

Spinal Cord Injury Regenerative Medicine Neurology

Simple Explanation

This study explores the potential of using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to treat spinal cord injuries (SCI) in mice. The researchers compared two methods of delivering the MSCs: intravenous (i.v.) injection and intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection. The study found that both methods of MSC delivery led to positive outcomes, including preservation of white matter in the spinal cord, increased levels of trophic factors, and improved locomotor performance. These findings suggest that using MSCs through systemic routes (i.v. or i.p.) could be a promising alternative for SCI treatment, offering a less invasive approach than direct spinal cord injections.

Study Duration

8 weeks

Participants

24 adult female C57BL/6 mice

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Both intravenous and intraperitoneal injections of MSCs resulted in white matter preservation in the injured spinal cord compared to control groups.
2
MSC-treated groups showed higher levels of trophic factors (BDNF, NGF, NT-3, and NT-4) in the spinal cord compared to the DMEM groups, suggesting a neuroprotective effect.
3
Mice that received MSC transplants, regardless of the administration route, demonstrated improved locomotor performance, as measured by the Global Mobility Test and Basso Mouse Scale.

Research Summary

This study investigated the efficacy of systemic mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation, via intravenous and intraperitoneal routes, for treating compressive spinal cord injury (SCI) in mice. The results indicated that both MSC administration routes led to significant improvements in white matter preservation, trophic factor expression, and locomotor performance compared to control groups. The findings suggest that systemic MSC transplantation is a viable and less invasive therapeutic strategy for SCI, potentially promoting axonal myelination and functional recovery through the release of trophic factors.

Practical Implications

Clinical Translation

The study supports the potential for using systemic MSC administration (intravenous or intraperitoneal) as a less invasive treatment option for spinal cord injury patients.

Therapeutic Target

The increased expression of trophic factors (BDNF, NGF, NT-3, and NT-4) highlights the paracrine effects of MSCs as a key mechanism for promoting neuroprotection and regeneration in SCI.

Future Research

Further studies are warranted to optimize MSC dosage, timing of administration, and long-term efficacy in preclinical models before translation to human clinical trials.

Study Limitations

1
The study was conducted in a mouse model of compressive SCI, which may not fully replicate the complexity of human SCI.
2
The long-term effects of MSC transplantation and the precise mechanisms underlying functional recovery were not fully elucidated.
3
The study did not investigate the potential for MSC differentiation into specific neural cell types in vivo.

Your Feedback

Was this summary helpful?

Back to Spinal Cord Injury