Grafted bone marrow stromal cells: a contributor to glial repair after spinal cord injury.
In the CNS, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and microglias are involved in not only development but also pathology such as spinal cord injury (SCI). Glial cells play dual roles (negative vs. positive effects) in these processes. After SCI, detrimental effects usually dominate and significantly retard functional recovery, and curbing these effects is critical for promoting neurological improvement. Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) represent a new therapeutic approach for SCI by enabling improved sensory and motor functions in animal models. Although transdifferentiation to spinal neurons was poor, because of their pleiotropic nature, the protective effects of BMSCs are broad and are primarily mediated through modulation of transdifferentiation into host spinal glial components. Transplantation of BMSCs can positively alter the spinal microenvironment and enhance recovery. The objective of this review is to discuss these and other related mechanisms. Since BMSCs transplantation has been applied in other clinical fields, we hope to provide useful clues for the clinical application of BMSCs to treat the SCI in the near future.
Department of Rehabilitation, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China uzhanglx@aliyun.com.
Li-Xin
LX
Zhang
Department of Rehabilitation, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
Yan-Mei
YM
Yin
Department of Rehabilitation, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
Zhi-Qiang
ZQ
Zhang
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, and Department of Neurological Surgery, Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Ling-Xiao
LX
Deng
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000502:physiology*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*
astrocyte; bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs); glial scar; inflammation; microglia; myelination; oligodendrocyte; spinal cord injury (SCI)