title: Neuroprotective effects of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells in an immunocompetent animal model of Parkinson's disease.
abstract: Microglial activation in the substantia nigra (SN) is a ubiquitous feature in PD which could mediate toxic effects. Human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs) possess immunomodulatory properties. We evaluated whether the transplantation of hMSCs obtained from umbilical cord had a neuroprotective effect in a not-immunosuppressed rat Parkinson's disease (PD) model. Rats receiving hMSCs in the SN displayed significant preservation in the number of dopaminergic neurons in the SN at 21 days after lesion and an improved performance in behavioral tests compared to control rats. However, no differences in any inflammatory parameter tested were found. These results suggest that grafted hMSCs exert neuroprotection but not neuromodulatory effects on degenerating dopaminergic neurons.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Regenerative and Protective Therapies of the Nervous System, Foundation Leloir Institute, IIBBA-CONICET, 435 Av Patricias Argentinas, 1405 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mathieu
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Roca
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gamba
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Del Pozo
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pitossi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D059290:Dopaminergic Neurons / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation