title: Long-term results of spinal cord injury therapy using mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow in humans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although the transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) after spinal cord injury (SCI) has shown promising results in animals, less is known about the effects of autologous MSCs in human SCI.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the long-term results of 10 patients who underwent intramedullary direct MSCs transplantation into injured spinal cords.
  
  
  METHODS
  Autologous MSCs were harvested from the iliac bone of each patient and expanded by culturing for 4 weeks. MSCs (8 × 10) were directly injected into the spinal cord, and 4 × 10 cells were injected into the intradural space of 10 patients with American Spinal Injury Association class A or B injury caused by traumatic cervical SCI. After 4 and 8 weeks, an additional 5 × 10 MSCs were injected into each patient through lumbar tapping. Outcome assessments included changes in the motor power grade of the extremities, magnetic resonance imaging, and electrophysiological recordings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although 6 of the 10 patients showed motor power improvement of the upper extremities at 6-month follow-up, 3 showed gradual improvement in activities of daily living, and changes on magnetic resonance imaging such as decreases in cavity size and the appearance of fiber-like low signal intensity streaks. They also showed electrophysiological improvement. All 10 patients did not experience any permanent complication associated with MSC transplantation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Three of the 10 patients with SCI who were directly injected with autologous MSCs showed improvement in the motor power of the upper extremities and in activities of daily living, as well as significant magnetic resonance imaging and electrophysiological changes during long-term follow-up.
authors: Department of Neurological Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Jin Hoon
authors: JH
authors: Park
authors: Dae Yul
authors: DY
authors: Kim
authors: Inn Young
authors: IY
authors: Sung
authors: Gyong Hyo
authors: GH
authors: Choi
authors: Min Ho
authors: MH
authors: Jeon
authors: Kwang Kuk
authors: KK
authors: Kim
authors: Sang Ryong
authors: SR
authors: Jeon
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome