Stem Cell Secretome for Spinal Cord Repair: Is It More than Just a Random Baseline Set of Factors?

Cells, 2021 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10113214 · Published: November 18, 2021

Spinal Cord Injury Regenerative Medicine

Simple Explanation

Spinal cord injuries (SCI) are a major health problem that can lead to motor, sensory, and autonomic problems. Stem cells have shown promise in treating SCI by protecting and helping to regenerate damaged tissue. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be given intravenously to treat SCIs. MSCs can adapt to the injury and produce what is known as the lesion-induced secretome. This review looks at how the secretome and lesion-induced secretome can help with SCI symptoms and recovery. It emphasizes that the lesion-induced secretome has different compositions based on the SCI model.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Not specified

Evidence Level

Review

Key Findings

1
MSCs secrete a variety of soluble anti-inflammatory molecules, including TNF-β1, IL-13, IL-18 binding protein, CNTF, NT-3, IL-10, and IL-27, suggesting a significant immunoregulatory role.
2
NSCs transplanted into a damaged CNS were able to produce a different lesion-induced secretome composition.
3
Factors produced by grafted cells were coincident with the expression of stage-specific embryonic antigen (SSEA)-1 or -4 markers, suggesting the presence of a narrow time window when grafted cells can produce the lesion-induced secretome.

Research Summary

This review focuses on current research related to the secretome and the lesion-induced secretome and their roles in modulating spinal cord injury symptoms and functional recovery. MSCs are likely to produce secretomes in vitro that are used therapeutically, undifferentiated transplanted NSCs or iPSCs are able to adapt to the injured environment and produce the composition of a given lesion-induced secretome. The identification and local application of these unique factors may open new avenues for treatment strategies of the injured CNS.

Practical Implications

Therapeutic Potential of Secretome

The secretome, especially the lesion-induced secretome, holds promise as a therapeutic approach for SCI due to its immunomodulatory, regenerative, and protective potential.

Personalized Treatment Strategies

Understanding the varying compositions of the lesion-induced secretome in different SCI models can lead to more tailored and effective treatment strategies.

Advancements in Delivery Methods

Development of less invasive and more targeted delivery methods for secretome components, such as virus-derived vectors and nanoparticles, can enhance treatment efficacy.

Study Limitations

1
Further studies are necessary to prove the positive effects of the identified factors used intraspinally.
2
Clinical application of undifferentiated stem cell transplantation is not feasible yet.
3
Inflammatory cytokines in the secretome composition may have a negative effect on the peripheral immune system.

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