Co-transplantation of controlled release glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells-derived neuron-like cells reduces glial scars after spinal cord injury

Liu Xiao-gang; Deng Yu-bin; Cai Hui; Zhang Xin-peng; Ma Yu-lin; Wei Ke-xin

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2013.42.014

Abstract：BACKGROUND:Previous studies have demonstrated that transplantation of control ed release glial cellline-derived neurotrophic factor and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells-derived neuron-like cells can effectively promote the motor function and sensory function recovery of rhesus monkeys with spinal cord injury. <br> OBJECTIVE:To validate whether co-transplantation of control ed release glial cellline-derived neurotrophic factor and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells-derived neuron-like cells exhibits better protective effects on spinal cord glial scar of rhesus monkeys with spinal cord injury than celltransplantation alone. <br> METHODS:Twelve rhesus monkeys were col ected to prepare animal models of acute severe spinal cord injury using modified Al en’s method, and then randomly divided into three groups:experimental group, co-transplantation of control ed release glial cellline-derived neurotrophic factor and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells-derived neuron-like cells;control group, simple transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells-derived neuron-like cells;blank control group, PBS. After 5 months, paraffin specimens of the spinal cord were made for detection of morphological and compositional characteristics of glial scar, regeneration of nerve fibers in the scar, glial scar area, and average absorbance of glial fibril ary acidic protein. <br> RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Glial scar in the injured spinal cord was composed of astrocytes and histocytes. Less spinal cord glial scar area and lower absorbance value could be observed in the experimental and control groups as compared with the blank control group (P<0.05). In addition, in the blank control group, neurofilament negative fibers could be observed in the glial scar, and astrocytes proliferated obviously. The experimental and control groups showed less fibers passed through the scar area. The glial scar area and average absorbance in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). These findings suggest that compared with simple transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells-derived neuron-like cells, co-transplantation of control ed release glial cellline-derived neurotrophic factor and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells-derived neuron-like cells shows better protective effects spinal tissue structure after spinal cord injury, which may be one of mechanisms by which the number of glial scars is reduced to a greater extent.