title: Repair of the injured spinal cord by transplantation of neural stem cells in a hyaluronan-based hydrogel.
abstract: Traumatic injury to the spinal cord causes cell death, demyelination, axonal degeneration, and cavitation resulting in functional motor and sensory loss. Stem cell therapy is a promising approach for spinal cord injury (SCI); however, this strategy is currently limited by the poor survival and uncontrolled differentiation of transplanted stem cells. In an attempt to achieve greater survival and integration with the host tissue, we examined the survival and efficacy of adult brain-derived neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) injected within a hydrogel blend of hyaluronan and methyl cellulose (HAMC) into a subacute, clinically relevant model of rat SCI. Prior to use, HAMC was covalently modified with recombinant rat platelet-derived growth factor-A (rPDGF-A) to promote oligodendrocytic differentiation. SCI rats transplanted with NSPCs in HAMC-rPDGF-A showed improved behavioral recovery compared to rats transplanted with NSPCs in media. Rats with NSPC/HAMC-rPDGF-A transplants had a significant reduction in cavitation, improved graft survival, increased oligodendrocytic differentiation, and sparing of perilesional host oligodendrocytes and neurons. These data suggest that HAMC-rPDGF-A is a promising vehicle for cell delivery to the injured spinal cord.
authors: Division of Genetics and Development, Toronto Western Research Institute, University of Toronto, 399 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON, Canada M5T 2S8.
authors: Andrea J
authors: AJ
authors: Mothe
authors: Roger Y
authors: RY
authors: Tam
authors: Tasneem
authors: T
authors: Zahir
authors: Charles H
authors: CH
authors: Tator
authors: Molly S
authors: MS
authors: Shoichet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D008747:Methylcellulose / Q000737:chemistry; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; C075278:platelet-derived growth factor A; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D008747:Methylcellulose