Korean J Cerebrovasc Surg.  2005 Mar;7(1):61-68.

Histological and Functional Changes after Transplantation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell in the Ischemic Rat Model

• Kim HS
• Song JY
• Kim HS
• Yun HU
• Lee KB
• Cho KG

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Brain transplantation has emerged as an effective treatment for patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease, Huntingtons disease and Stroke. We evaluated that cytokine inducted human mesenchymal stem cells (Ci-hMSCs) transplanted in brain differentiated into neural cells and improved neurological functions after stroke in rats.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In the adult female Sprague-Dawley rats, ischemic lesion was induced by transient MCA occlusion lasted for 2 hours. One day later, Ci-hMSCs carrying LacZ gene were implanted via tail vein. The animals were assessed for sensorymotor function and sacrificed for Immunohistochemical staining at 7, 14, 28, 56 days after transplantation.
RESULTS
A large number of X-gal positive hMSCs were observed in the ischemic core and ischemic boundary zone. Some hMSCs were reactive for the astrocytic marker - glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neuronal marker - neuronal nuclear antigen (NeuN). The ischemic rats that were transplanted with Ci-hMSCs exhibited better functional improvement than control groups and the rats with hMSCs, which was statistically significant.
CONCLUSION
The neuronal differentiation of CihMSCs suggested that transplantation of the Ci-hMSCs may provide the possibility of the clinical implication for cerebral stroke.

Keyword

Stroke; Brain transplantation; Human mesenchymal stem cells; Cytokine inducted human mesenchymal stem cells

MeSH Terms

Adult
Animals
Brain
Female
Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein
Humans*
Lac Operon
Mesenchymal Stromal Cells*
Models, Animal*
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Neurons
Parkinson Disease
Rats*
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Stroke
Veins
Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein