Transplanted myogenic progenitor cells express neuronal markers in the CNS and ameliorate disease in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.
This study explores the potential of non-neural progenitor cells for CNS cell therapy. Muscle progenitor cells (MPCs), transplanted either intraventricularly or intraperitonealy, incorporated into the CNS of EAE-induced but not of naïve mice. Some of the migrating MPCs expressed the neuronal marker beta-III-Tubulin and gained neuronal morphology. Co-treatment of transplanted mice with the immunomodulatory agent glatiramer acetate (GA, Copaxone) resulted in improved MPCs incorporation and differentiation towards the neuronal pathway. The therapeutic potential of myogenic progenitor cells was demonstrated by amelioration of clinical symptoms and reduced mortality in EAE mice, as well as by expression of IL-10, TGF-beta, and the neurotrophin-BDNF.
Aharoni
Rina
R
The Department of Immunology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel. rina.aharoni@weizmann.ac.il
Aizman
Elizabeta
E
Fuchs
Ora
O
Arnon
Ruth
R
Yaffe
David
D
Sarig
Rachel
R
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D006801:Humans; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D032448:Myoblasts, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D010455:Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D051381:Rats; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
D015415:Biomarkers; D010455:Peptides; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate