Transplantation of BMP-7 gene-transfected bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of spinal cord injury in rats

Abstract

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious traumatic disease of the central nervous system, and there is currently no effective treatment for SCI because of its complicated pathophysiology. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have multidirectional differentiation abilities. Our study aims to explore the effects of bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP-7)-modified BMSCs transplantation on the repair of SCI in rats. Methods: In this study, a rat spinal cord injury model was established with the modified Allen method. Then, BMSCs transfected with the BMP7 gene were transplanted to treat the spinal cord injury in rats. Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the sham operation group (sham group), spinal cord injury group (model group), BMSC treatment group (BMSC group) and LV-BMP7-BMSC treatment group (LV-BMP7-BMSC group). The Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) score was used to evaluate the recovery of hindlimb function in the rats. The levels of neurofilament protein NF-200 (NF-200) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were detected by immunofluorescence, RT-PCR and Western blotting. Results: At 14 d, 21 d, and 28 d after treatment, the BBB score of the rats in the LV-BMP7-BMSC group was higher than that of the rats in the model group and BMSC group. The results showed that NF-200 was expressed at the local spinal cord injury site. Compared with that of the sham group, the NF-200 expression level of the BMSC group and LV-BMP7-BMSC group was increased (P < 0.05). The results showed that the mRNA expression levels of NF-200 in the spinal cord tissue of the BMSC group and LV-BMP7-BMSC group were increased compared with those of the sham group (P < 0.05). The western blotting results further confirmed the PCR results. Conclusion: BMP-7 gene-modified BMSC transplantation can promote the repair of spinal cord functions after SCI in rats.