title: Alternative source of stem cells derived from human periodontal ligament: a new treatment for experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple sclerosis is a demyelinating disease mostly of autoimmune origin that affects and damages the central nervous system, leading to a disabling condition. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether administration of mesenchymal stem cells from human periodontal ligament (hPDLSCs) could ameliorate multiple sclerosis progression by exerting neuroprotective effects in an experimental model of autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).
  
  
  METHODS
  EAE was induced by immunization with myelin oligodendroglial glycoprotein peptide (MOG)35-55 in C57BL/6 mice. After immunization, mice were observed every 48 hours for signs of EAE and weight loss. At the onset of disease, approximately 14 days after immunization, EAE mice were subjected to a single intravenous injection of hPDLSCs (10(6) cells/150 μl) into the tail vein. At the point of animal sacrifice on day 56 after EAE induction, spinal cord and brain tissues were collected in order to perform histological evaluation, immunohistochemistry and western blotting analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Achieved results reveal that treatment with hPDLSCs may exert neuroprotective effects against EAE, diminishing both clinical signs and histological score typical of the disease (lymphocytic infiltration and demyelination) probably through the production of neurotrophic factors (results focused on brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor expression). Furthermore, administration of hPDLSCs modulates expression of inflammatory key markers (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-10, glial fibrillary acidic protein, Nrf2 and Foxp3), the release of CD4 and CD8α T cells, and the triggering of apoptotic death pathway (data shown for cleaved caspase 3, p53 and p21).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In light of the achieved results, transplantation of hPDLSCs may represent a putative novel and helpful tool for multiple sclerosis treatment. These cells could have considerable implication for future therapies for multiple sclerosis and this study may represent the starting point for further investigations.
authors.affiliation: Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio", Chieti-Pescara, via dei Vestini, 31, 66100, Chieti, Italy. trubiani@unich.it.
authors.forename: Oriana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Trubiani
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Via Provinciale Palermo, contrada Casazza, 98124, Messina, Italy. giacoppo.sabrina@hotmail.it.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giacoppo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological, Humanities and Territorial Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy. p.ballerini@dsb.unich.it.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ballerini
authors.affiliation: Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio", Chieti-Pescara, via dei Vestini, 31, 66100, Chieti, Italy. francesca.diomede@unich.it.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Diomede
authors.affiliation: Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio", Chieti-Pescara, via dei Vestini, 31, 66100, Chieti, Italy. apiattelli@unich.it.
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piattelli
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Via Provinciale Palermo, contrada Casazza, 98124, Messina, Italy. bramanti.dino@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Placido
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bramanti
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Via Provinciale Palermo, contrada Casazza, 98124, Messina, Italy. emazzon.irccs@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mazzon
mesh_terms: D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000473:pathology; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000166:cytology; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; C409469:CD8 antigen, alpha chain; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; C495636:Nfe2l2 protein, mouse; C528900:glial fibrillary astrocytic protein, mouse