Optimal Preclinical Conditions for Using Adult Human Multipotent Neural Cells in the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2021 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22052579 · Published: March 4, 2021

Spinal Cord Injury Regenerative Medicine

Simple Explanation

This study explores the use of adult human multipotent neural cells (ahMNCs) derived from patients with hemorrhagic stroke as a potential therapy for spinal cord injury (SCI). The researchers aimed to identify the optimal method for delivering these cells and the most effective dosage. The study found that injecting ahMNCs into the lateral ventricle of SCI-affected rats allowed the cells to migrate to the damaged spinal cord tissue. The scientists observed that a medium dose (1 million cells) led to better functional recovery than a low dose (300,000 cells). The transplanted ahMNCs appeared to exert their therapeutic effects through multiple mechanisms, including reducing glial scar formation, protecting nerve cells, and promoting angiogenesis. These findings suggest that ahMNCs hold promise as a stem cell therapy for SCI.

Study Duration

6 weeks

Participants

Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
ahMNCs from patients with hemorrhagic stroke exhibit neural stem cell characteristics and can differentiate into various neural cell lineages.
2
Transplantation of ahMNCs into the lateral ventricle of SCI rats resulted in cell migration to the damaged spinal cord and survival for at least 5 weeks.
3
A medium dose (1 × 106 cells) of ahMNCs showed the most favorable outcome in promoting locomotor function and tissue recovery in SCI animals.

Research Summary

This study investigates the use of adult human multipotent neural cells (ahMNCs) from hemorrhagic stroke patients as a potential therapy for spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. The research focuses on optimizing the injection route and dosage of ahMNCs for therapeutic efficacy. The key findings indicate that ahMNCs injected into the lateral ventricle migrate to the damaged spinal cord, promote locomotor recovery, and reduce tissue loss. A medium dose of 1 × 106 ahMNCs showed the most significant improvement in functional outcomes. The therapeutic effects of ahMNCs are associated with modulating glial scar formation, neuroprotection, and angiogenesis. The study suggests that ahMNCs from hemorrhagic stroke are a promising source for stem cell therapies for SCI, and the optimal dose defined can help future clinical studies.

Practical Implications

Clinical Relevance

The indirect injection route (lateral ventricle) and optimal ahMNCs dosage identified in this study could be clinically relevant for developing stem cell therapies for SCI patients.

Therapeutic Mechanisms

Understanding how ahMNCs modulate glial scar formation, neuroprotection, and angiogenesis can lead to the development of more targeted and effective therapies for SCI.

Cell Source

ahMNCs from hemorrhagic stroke patients represent a readily available and clinically relevant cell source for autologous stem cell therapies in SCI.

Study Limitations

1
The study uses a rat model of SCI, which may not fully replicate the complexities of human SCI.
2
The long-term effects of ahMNC transplantation beyond 5 weeks were not evaluated.
3
The specific paracrine factors mediating the neuroprotective effects of ahMNCs were not identified.

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