Scientific Reports, 2018 · DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-18754-4 · Published: January 10, 2018
This study investigates the effectiveness of transplanting olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) to help with motor function and neuropathic pain in animal models of spinal cord injury (SCI). The authors reviewed existing research on this topic. The research showed that OEC transplantation significantly improved functional recovery in SCI animal models, especially in thoracic injuries and with allogeneic transplants. However, it didn't improve hyperalgesia and allodynia, and may worsen hyperalgesia over time. The authors highlight that while OEC transplantation can improve motor function after SCI, it might not alleviate all types of pain and could even worsen certain pain conditions like hyperalgesia, necessitating further research.
OEC transplantation can be considered as a potential treatment to improve motor function recovery after SCI.
The effects of OEC transplantation should be interpreted with caution since the treatment may not be beneficial in every setting and further investigations are required to determine the subgroups of patients and the specific settings that benefit the most from this treatment.
Neuropathic pain should be carefully monitored in patients undergoing OEC transplantation for SCI, particularly with longer follow-up periods, given the potential for aggravation of hyperalgesia.