title: Aquapuncture Using Stem Cell Therapy to Treat Mdx Mice.
abstract: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) occurs due to genetic mutations that lead to absence or decrease of dystrophin protein generating progressive muscle degeneration. Cell therapy using mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) has been described as a treatment to DMD. In this work, MSC derived from deciduous teeth, called stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED), were injected in acupoint as an alternative therapy to minimize muscle degeneration in twenty-two mdx mice. The treatment occurred three times with intervals of 21 days, and animals were analyzed four times: seven days prior treatment (T-7); 10 days after first treatment (T10); 10 days after second treatment (T31); and 10 days after third treatment (T52). Animals were evaluated by wire test for estimate strength and blood was collected to perform a creatinine phosphokinase analysis. After euthanasia, cranial tibial muscles were collected and submitted to histological and immunohistochemistry analyses. Treated groups presented improvement of strength and reduced creatinine phosphokinase levels. Also, a slight dystrophin increase was observed in tibial cranial muscle when aquapuncture was associated SHED. All therapies have minimized muscle degeneration, but the association of aquapuncture with SHED appears to have better effect, reducing muscle damage, suggesting a therapeutic value.
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Lab, Surgery Department, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, 87 Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva Avenue, 05508-270 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Greyson Vitor Zanatta
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Esper
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Lab, Surgery Department, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, 87 Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva Avenue, 05508-270 São Paulo, SP, Brazil ; Center for Cellular and Molecular Studies and Therapy (NETCEM), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Graciela Conceição
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Pignatari
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Lab, Surgery Department, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, 87 Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva Avenue, 05508-270 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcio Nogueira
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Clinic Department, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, 87 Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva Avenue, 05508-270 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Heloisa Godoi
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Bertagnon
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Lab, Surgery Department, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, 87 Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva Avenue, 05508-270 São Paulo, SP, Brazil ; Center for Cellular and Molecular Studies and Therapy (NETCEM), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Isabella Rodrigues
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Nuclear and Energy Research Institute Biotechnology Center, 2242 Prof. Lineu Prestes Avenue, 05508-270 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nanci
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Division of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, Federal University of São Paulo, 862 Botucatu Street, 04023-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Angela Maria Florencio
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tabosa
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Lab, Surgery Department, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, 87 Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva Avenue, 05508-270 São Paulo, SP, Brazil ; Center for Cellular and Molecular Studies and Therapy (NETCEM), São Paulo, SP, Brazil ; Obstetrics Department, School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, University of São Paulo, 1000 Arlindo Bettio Avenue, 03828-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patrícia Cristina Baleeiro
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Beltrão-Braga
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Lab, Surgery Department, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, 87 Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva Avenue, 05508-270 São Paulo, SP, Brazil ; Center for Cellular and Molecular Studies and Therapy (NETCEM), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Angelica
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Miglino