Intravenous administration of mesenchymal stem cells improve functional recovery after traumatic brain injury in rats.

Anbari, F.; Khalili, M. A.; Bahrami, A. R.; Aflatounian, B.; Khoradmehr, A.

Introduction: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of mortality worldwide. The clinical studies have proven cell therapy as a major option to improve the brain function post trauma, and by possible regeneration of the nervous system. The aim was to investigate the role of intravenous administration of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) after TBI. Materials and Methods: The animals were divided into two groups of TBI PBS (control) and TBI MSC (experimental). TBI was done based on model of Foda-Marmarou. MSCs were exposed with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) 48 h before intravenous injection. The experimental group received 3×106 MSCs, labeled with BrdU, and PBS was injected to control group, into the lateral tail vein, 24 h after TBI. The neurological severity score (NSS) was performed to evaluate the neurological function at 0, 1, 7 and 14 days after TBI. MSCs migration and their differention to neurons and astrocyte cells were examined with immunohistochemistry. Results: Results from NSS showed no significant differences between the groups of control and experimental at 1 and 7 days (3.5±1.41 vs 5.63±2.44, p=0.06) and (2±1.69 vs 3.62±1.99, p=0.06), respectively. However, motor deficits decreased significantly in the experimental rats when compared with control group at 14 days (0.75±0.7 vs 2.75±1.83, p=0.01). Immunohistochemical studies showed that BrdU positive MSCs migrated via venous system to the cerebral tissue. Also, migrated MSCs to the injured brain were able to express neuronal (NeuN) and astrocytes (GFAP) markers. Conclusion: Intravenous administration of MSCs seems to improve the functional recovery and neural cells regeneration after TBI in animal model. MSCs application may be suitable as therapeutic strategy for regeneration of CNS after TBI technique.

BRAIN injury treatment; CELLULAR therapy; MESENCHYMAL stem cells; NERVOUS system regeneration; BROMODEOXYURIDINE; LABORATORY rats

Iranian Journal of Reproductive Medicine, 2013, p63

1680-6433

Academic Journal