Transplantation of Human Bone Marrow Stem Cells into Symptomatic ALS Mice Enhanced Structural and Functional Blood-Spinal Cord Barrier Repair

This study investigates a potential new treatment for ALS using human bone marrow stem cells. The goal is to repair damage to the blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB), which is often compromised in ALS patients. By repairing this barrier, the treatment aims to protect motor neurons and slow down the progression of the disease. Researchers administered different doses of human bone marrow CD34+ cells (hBM34+) to symptomatic ALS mice. They then analyzed the structural and functional integrity of the capillaries in the spinal cord, looking for signs of repair and improvement in the BSCB. The study found that a high dose of hBM34+ cells significantly improved the structural and functional integrity of the BSCB in ALS mice. This suggests that stem cell therapy could be a beneficial approach for treating ALS by repairing the damaged BSCB and protecting motor neurons.

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  The high dose of hBM34+ cells significantly restored capillary ultrastructure in the spinal cords of ALS mice. Electron microscopy showed improvements in the morphology of endothelial cells, pericytes, and basement membranes.
• 2
  Capillary permeability was significantly reduced in ALS mice treated with the high dose of hBM34+ cells. Evans Blue dye extravasation assays demonstrated decreased leakage of the dye into the spinal cord parenchyma.
• 3
  The high dose of hBM34+ cells enhanced axonal myelin coherence in the lateral funiculus of the lumbar spinal cord. Histological analysis revealed increased myelin intensity in mice treated with the high cell dose.