Human embryonic stem cell-derived neural precursor transplants in collagen scaffolds promote recovery in injured rat spinal cord.
OBJECTIVE
Several studies have reported functional improvement after transplantation of in vivo-derived neural progenitor cells (NPC) into injured spinal cord. However, the potential of human embryonic stem cell-derived NPC (hESC-NPC) as a tool for cell replacement of spinal cord injury (SCI) should be considered.


METHODS
We report on the generation of NPC as neural-like tubes in adherent and feeder-free hESC using a defined media supplemented with growth factors, and their transplantation in collagen scaffolds in adult rats subjected to midline lateral hemisection SCI.


RESULTS
hESC-NPC were highly expressed molecular features of NPC such as Nestin, Sox1 and Pax6. Furthermore, these cells exhibited the multipotential characteristic of differentiating into neurons and glials in vitro. Implantation of xenografted hESC-NPC into the spinal cord with collagen scaffold improved the recovery of hindlimb locomotor function and sensory responses in an adult rat model of SCI. Analysis of transplanted cells showed migration toward the spinal cord and both neural and glial differentiation in vivo.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings show that transplantation of hESC-NPC in collagen scaffolds into an injured spinal cord may provide a new approach to SCI.
Hatami
Maryam
M
Department of Stem Cells, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute, Tehran, Iran.
Mehrjardi
Nargess Zare
NZ
Kiani
Sahar
S
Hemmesi
Katayoun
K
Azizi
Hossein
H
Shahverdi
Abdolhossein
A
Baharvand
Hossein
H
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000637:transplantation*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
D015415:Biomarkers; D003094:Collagen