HAEC in the treatment of brain hemorrhage: a preliminary observation in rabbits.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of human amniotic epithelial cell (HAEC) transplantation in the management of brain hemorrhage in an animal model.


METHODS
New Zealand white rabbits were induced to develop cerebral hemorrhage through autologous blood injection. Animals with confirmed brain hemorrhage were randomized to receive transplantation of, respectively, vehicle (n=15) and primary HAECs (n=15) that were expressing embryonic stem cell- and neuron-specific markers and were transfected with a retroviral vector carrying the green fluorescent protein (GFP). Behavioral and histological changes, survival of transplanted HAECs, and expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and MAP-2 in transplanted perifocal tissue were assessed at various time points after transplantation.


RESULTS
At 2-3 weeks after transplantation, walking, body weight-supporting and movement coordinating capacities of limbs were improved mostly level II-III hemorrhage lesion cases in HAEC transplantation group but mostly in level I-II hemorrhage lesion cases in the vehicle control group. The Tarlov scores were significantly difference between the two groups (P<0.05). GFAP- and MAP-2-positive cells were observed in the neural tissue in animals transplanted with hAECs but not in animals in the control group (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary observations suggest that hAEC transplantation possess both embryonic stem cell features and a neuron differentiation potential and thus may offer a promising treatment for hemorrhage-associated neurological damage.
Department of Neurosurgery, Anqing Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University Anqing 246003, Anhui Province, PR China.
Heping
H
Zhou
Department of Neurosurgery, The First People's Hospital of Taizhou Taizhou, Zhejiang province, PR China.
Zhaohui
Z
Mu
Department of Neurosurgery, Anqing Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University Anqing 246003, Anhui Province, PR China.
Xinsheng
X
Chen
Department of Neurosurgery, Anqing Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University Anqing 246003, Anhui Province, PR China.
Zhengsheng
Z
Shi
Department of Neurosurgery, Anqing Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University Anqing 246003, Anhui Province, PR China.
Zhengjiang
Z
Zha
Department of Neurosurgery, Mudu People's Hospital of Suzhou Suzhou, Jiangsu province, PR China.
Yanfei
Y
Liu
Department of Neurosurgery, Changzheng Hospital of Shanghai, Second Military Medical University Shanghai, PR China.
Zheng
Z
Xu
D000650:Amnion / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D048430:Cell Shape; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009043:Motor Activity; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*; D010641:Phenotype; D011817:Rabbits; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013997:Time Factors; D014162:Transfection
D015415:Biomarkers; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins
GFAP; Human amniotic epithelial cell; MAP-2; brain hemorrhage; rabbit