Transplantation of PSA-NCAM-Positive Neural Precursors from Human Embryonic Stem Cells Promotes Functional Recovery in an Animal Model of Spinal Cord Injury

This study explores a potential treatment for spinal cord injury (SCI) using human neural precursor cells (hNPCs) that are positive for a marker called PSA-NCAM. These cells were transplanted into rats with SCI to see if they could help improve motor function. The researchers found that the rats who received the hNPCsPSA-NCAM? showed significant improvement in their ability to move compared to rats who received a placebo. This suggests that the transplanted cells may help to repair damaged tissue in the spinal cord. The transplanted cells differentiated into neural cells and integrated into the host tissue without forming tumors, suggesting that hNPCsPSA-NCAM? cells are a safe and effective source for treating SCI.

• 1
  Transplantation of hNPCsPSA-NCAM? into injured spinal cords of rats significantly improved locomotor function.
• 2
  hNPCsPSA-NCAM? differentiated into neural cells and successfully integrated into the host tissue with no evidence of tumor formation.
• 3
  Some undifferentiated NPCs expressed midkine, a neurotrophic factor involved in neural development and inflammatory responses, 10 weeks after transplantation.