Brain stem cell transplantation daring mild hypothermia treatment of patients with traumatic brain injuries

Abstract

Objective To study the feasibility of stem cell transplantation under mild hypothermia so as to provide a prerequisite for stem cell transplantation in patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) during mild hypothermia treatment. Methods After transfecting plasmid containing temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 large T-antigen (tsSV40LT) into temperature-sensitive umbilical cord mes-enchymal stem cells (tsUCMSCs) , the changes of cell morphology, nuclear proliferation index (PIx) and telomerase activity were detested when the tsUCMSCs were cultured at 33℃ and 37℃. After the mouse model with tTBI treated with mild hypothermia was established, tsUCMSCs were transplanted into semi-injury area to detect survival rate, proliferation and apoptosis indices and perform neurological deficit scoring. Results When cultured at 33℃, the tsUCMSCs displayed long spindle-shaped and highly refractive, with higher proliferation index and telomerase activity than those cultured at 37℃. Compared with control group (non-temperature-sensitive UCMSCs transplantation), tsUCMSCs in semi-injury area showed much higher cell survival and proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression ( P < 0.05 ) , with fewer apoptotic cells and better neurological function (P < 0.05). Conclusion The establishment of temperature-sensitive stem cell line enables stem cell transplantation during treatment of TBI with mild hypothermia, as provides us a new direction for treatment of TBI. Key words: Brain injuries; Hypothermia, artificial; Stem cells; Transplantation