title: Survival of neurally induced mesenchymal cells may determine degree of motor recovery in injured spinal cord rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We recently developed a new method for efficient generation of neural-like cells from mice bone marrow (BM)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) by exposing MSCs to epigenetic modifiers and a neural stem cell environment. These neurally induced MSCs (NI-MSCs) differentiate into neuronal- and glial-like cells in vitro, release neurotrophic factors NGF and BDNF, survive and integrate after transplantation in intact spinal cord. The aim of this study was to determine whether transplanted NI-MSCs survive, differentiate, and integrate in injured spinal cord (ISC) rats and promote functional recovery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty rats, half grafted with MSCs and half with NI-MSCs, were used for survival and differentiation studies. Results were analyzed using triple-labeled immunohistochemistry. For motor function studies the 3 group of adult female Sprague Dawley rats received PBS (vehicle), MSCs, or NI-MSCs, respectively. Functional outcome was measured using the BBB scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results demonstrated gradual improvement of locomotor function in NI-MSC-transplanted rats in comparison to vehicle and non-modified MSC-transplanted animals, with statistically significant differences at 7, 14, and 21 days post transplantation. Immunocytochemical studies revealed poor survival of NI-MSCs within the ISC as early as 3 weeks after transplantation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thus, there is a correlation between the degree of surviving NI-MSCs and extent of functional recovery.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Labs, Deptpartment of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, VAMC, Milwaukee, WI 53295, USA. aalexan@mcw.edu
authors.forename: Arshak R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Alexanian
authors.forename: Wai-Meng
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Kwok
authors.forename: Danijel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pravdic
authors.forename: Dennis J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Maiman
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Fehlings
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*