Repeated injections of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells significantly promotes functional recovery in rabbits with spinal cord injury of two noncontinuous segments

Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 2018 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-018-0879-0 · Published: May 11, 2018

Spinal Cord Injury Regenerative Medicine

Simple Explanation

This study investigates using stem cells from human umbilical cord blood (hUCB-MSCs) to treat spinal cord injuries (SCIs) in rabbits where two separate sections of the spinal cord were damaged. The researchers wanted to see if giving these stem cells multiple times would help the rabbits recover better than giving them just one dose. The results showed that repeated injections of hUCB-MSCs, especially when given every three days, helped the rabbits regain more movement and feeling compared to a single injection or injections spaced further apart.

Study Duration

8 weeks

Participants

43 adult female New Zealand white rabbits

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Repeated injections of hUCB-MSCs at 3-day intervals (3RI) resulted in significantly better functional recovery compared to single injection (SI) or repeated injections at 7-day intervals (7RI).
2
hUCB-MSCs survived, proliferated, and primarily differentiated into oligodendrocytes in the injured area, contributing to improved nerve function.
3
Treatment with hUCB-MSCs reduced astrocytic activation, increased axonal preservation, decreased inflammatory cells and apoptotic cells, suggesting a protective effect on the injured spinal cord.

Research Summary

This study demonstrated that repeated intravenous injections of hUCB-MSCs can promote functional recovery in rabbits with subacute spinal cord compression injury of two noncontinuous segments. The recovery was more pronounced when the cells were repeatedly injected at 3-day intervals, suggesting that the timing of injections is a critical factor. The beneficial effects of hUCB-MSCs include differentiation into specific cell types, enhancement of anti-inflammatory, anti-astrogliosis, anti-apoptotic, and axonal preservation effects.

Practical Implications

Clinical Translation Potential

Repeated intravenous transplantation of hUCB-MSCs at 3-day intervals appears to be a novel and useful treatment strategy for clinical application to CNS injuries.

Optimized Treatment Protocols

The study highlights the importance of optimizing treatment protocols, particularly the timing of cell injections, to maximize therapeutic efficacy.

Understanding Recovery Mechanisms

Further research is needed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of hUCB-MSCs and to identify additional factors that can enhance stem cell homing and differentiation.

Study Limitations

1
The study was conducted on rabbits, and the results may not be directly applicable to humans.
2
The long-term effects of hUCB-MSC transplantation were not investigated.
3
The precise mechanisms by which hUCB-MSCs promote functional recovery are not fully understood.

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