Abstract
The transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) to repair spinal cord injury (SCI) has become a promising therapy. However, there is still a lack of visual evidence directly implicating the transplanted cells as the source of the improvement of spinal cord function. In this study, BMSCs were labeled with NF-200 promoter and lipase-activated gadolinium-containing nanoparticles (Gd-DTPA-FA). Double labeled BMSCs were implanted into spinal cord transaction injury in rat models in situ, the function recovery was evaluated on 1st, 7th, 14th, 28 th days by MRI, Diffusion Tensor Imaing, CT imaging and post-processing, and histological observations. BBB scores were used for assessing function recovery. After transplantation of BMSCs, the hypersignal emerged in spinal cord in T1WI starting at day 7 that was focused at the injection site, which then increased and extended until day 14. Subsequently, the increased signal intensity area rapidly spread from the injection site to entire injured segment lasting four weeks. The diffusion tensor tractography and histological analysis both showed the nerve fibre from dividing to connecting partly. Immunofluorescence showed higher expression of NF-200 in Repaired group than Injury group. Electron microscopy showed detachment and loose of myelin lamellar getting better in Repaired group compared with the Injury group. BBB scores in Repaired group were significantly higher than those of injury animals. Our study suggests that the migration and distribution of Gd-DTPA-FA labeled BMSCs can be tracked using MRI. Transplantation of BMSCs represents a promising potential strategy for the repair of SCI.
Highlights
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a common trauma of the central nervous system, and morbidity associated with SCI is high [1]
Our study suggests that the migration and distribution of gadolinium-dimethylene pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA)-FA labeled Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) can be tracked using Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Hofstetter et al [4] have suggested that BMSCpromoted recovery may not be due to BMSCs replacing the damaged neurons but rather occurs due to axonal regeneration of nascient spinal cord neurons based on the distribution characteristics of BMSCs
Summary
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a common trauma of the central nervous system, and morbidity associated with SCI is high [1]. The transplantation of exogenous stem cells to repair the spinal cord has become the focus of much research. Stem cells have the potential for multi-directional differentiation and can differentiate into neuron-like cells at the site of the SCI after transplantation. Characteristics like its abundance, its high capacity for self-renewal, pluripotency, weak immunogenicity, and ease of transfection make BMSCs as an ideal source of stem cells for transplantation [2]. While many groups have shown that the transplantation of BMSCs can at least partially restore spinal function, the mechanism behind this recovery is currently unclear. The ability of BMSCs to differentiate into nerve cells has important research implications and promising applications in the treatment of neurological disorders
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