Abstract
Objectives: Stem cells have the potential to induce nervous tissue regeneration. Human stem cells derived from the umbilical cord are one of the strong candidates used in cell therapy for spinal cord injury because of weak immunogenicity and availability. We sought to evaluate whether the use of human umbilical cord blood stem cells (HUCBSC) attenuates the effects of spinal cord ischaemia due to cross-clamping of the thoracic aorta. Methods: Forty Wistar rats received intrathecal injection of 10 µL phosphate buffered saline solution containing 1x104 HUCBSC, 30 min before (Tpre group, n = 10) and 30 min after (Tpos group, n = 10) descending aortic occlusion by intraluminal balloon for 12 min. The control groups received only saline solution (Cpre group, n = 10 and Cpos group, n = 10). During a 28-day observational period, motor function was assessed. Three segments of thoraco-lumbar spinal cord specimens were analysed for histological and immunohistochemical assessment for the detection and quantification of human haematopoietic cells (CD45) and apoptosis. Results: All groups showed similar incidence of paraplegia and mortality. The mean motor function scores showed no difference over time, except for the Tpos group which improved from 8.1 ± 8.6 to 14.2 ± 9.8 (P = 0.01). The number of viable neurons was higher in the Tpos group (P = 0.14) and the apoptosis average was lower in the same animals (P = 0.048), but showed no difference from its respective control. We confirmed the presence of CD45+ cells four weeks after intrathecal injection in both therapeutic groups but mainly in the Tpos group. Conclusions: Intrathecal transplantation of HUCBSC is feasible and improved spinal cord function in a model of endovascular descending aortic occlusion.
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