Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation Promotes Functional Recovery through MMP2/STAT3 Related Astrogliosis after Spinal Cord Injury
- Author:
Choonghyo KIM
1
;
Hee Jung KIM
;
Hyun LEE
;
Hanbyeol LEE
;
Seung Jin LEE
;
Seung Tae LEE
;
Se Ran YANG
;
Chun Kee CHUNG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Spinal cord injury; MSC transplantation; Astrogliosis; MMP2; STAT3
- MeSH: Animals; Blotting, Western; Bone Marrow; Cicatrix; Immunohistochemistry; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells; Models, Animal; Rats; RNA, Messenger; Spinal Cord Injuries; Spinal Cord; White Matter
- From:International Journal of Stem Cells 2019;12(2):331-339
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Treatment with mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in spinal cord injury (SCI) has been highlighted as therapeutic candidate for SCI. Although astrogliosis is a major phenomenon after SCI, the role of astrogliosis is still controversial. In this study, we determined whether acute transplantation of MSC improves the outcome of SCI through modulating astrogliosis. METHODS: Bone marrow derived rat MSCs were induced neural differentiation and transplanted after acute SCI rats. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and neuro-inflammatory pathway were analyzed for acute astrogliosis at 1, 3 and 7 d after SCI in RT-PCR- and western blot analysis. Functional outcome was assessed serially at postoperative 1 d and weekly for 4 weeks. Histopathologic analysis was undertaken at 7 and 28 d following injury in immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Transplantation of MSCs decreased IL-1α, CXCL-2, CXCL-10, TNF-α and TGF-β in a rat model of contusive SCI. Protein level of NF-κB p65 was slightly decreased while level of STAT-3 was increased. In immunohistochemistry, MSC transplantation increased acute astrogliosis whereas attenuated scar formation with increased sparing white matter of spinal cord lesions. In RT-PCR analysis, mRNA levels of MMP2 was significantly increased in MSC transplanted rats. In BBB locomotor scale, the rats of MSC treated group exhibited improvement of functional recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Transplantation of MSC reduces the inflammatory reaction and modulates astrogliosis via MMP2/STAT3 pathway leading to improve functional recovery after SCI in rats.
