Therapeutic effect of umbilical cord blood cells on spinal cord injury

ibrain, 2023 · DOI: 10.1002/ibra.12101 · Published: July 1, 2023

Spinal Cord Injury Regenerative Medicine

Simple Explanation

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating condition that leads to motor and sensory dysfunction due to damage to the spinal cord. Current treatments only alleviate symptoms. Umbilical cord blood cells (UCBs) offer a potential therapeutic avenue due to their ability to differentiate into various cell types and repair neuronal damage, along with ethical considerations. This review describes in detail the role of UCBs in the treatment of SCI from different aspects such as behavior, morphology, and molecular expression changes.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

SCI rats and clinical trials on humans

Evidence Level

Review

Key Findings

1
Transplantation of UCBs and their derivatives has shown significant improvements in motor function in SCI animal models, as indicated by increased BBB scores and MEPs.
2
Morphological analysis revealed that UCB transplantation leads to a reduction in the size of injured sites, an increase in myelinated fibers and axons, and a decrease in the number of fibroblasts.
3
Molecular-level changes associated with UCB treatment include increased expression of neuroprotective factors such as NGF and GDNF, as well as modulation of inflammatory responses and angiogenesis.

Research Summary

This review summarizes the therapeutic effects of UCBs on SCI, highlighting improvements in sensory and motor function, reduction of the injured area, axon regeneration, and modulation of inflammation and angiogenesis. UCB treatment leads to increased expression of NeuN, NGF, and GDNF, indicating neuron regeneration, as well as decreased expression of caspase-3, suggesting inhibition of apoptosis. Future research should focus on identifying key molecules in UCB exosomes that promote nerve cell repair and reduce the host immune response, potentially leading to improved SCI treatments.

Practical Implications

Clinical Translation

The findings support the potential for clinical translation of UCB-based therapies for SCI patients.

Drug Development

Identification of key molecules from UCB exosomes can lead to targeted drug development for SCI.

Combination Therapies

Combining UCB therapy with gene transfection and electric stimulation may enhance treatment efficacy.

Study Limitations

1
The key molecular groups of UCB exosomes and their effects on nerve cell repair remain unclear.
2
The mechanisms of apoptosis inhibition and inflammation modulation by UCBs need further investigation.
3
Reducing the host immune response after UCB transplantation is crucial for improving treatment outcomes.

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