title: The combined application of human adipose derived stem cells and Chondroitinase ABC in treatment of a spinal cord injury model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although stem cell therapy has become a major focus as a new option for management of spinal cord injury (SCI), its effectiveness should be promoted. In this study, we investigated the effects of co-administrating human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) and Chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) in a rat model of spinal cord injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  hADSCs derived from superficial layer of abdominal adipose tissue were used to treat a contusion-induced SCI. Animals were randomly allocated to five equal groups including sham (only laminectomy), SCI (SCI+vehicle injection), hADSCs (1×10⁶ hADSCs/10μl intra-spinal injection), ChABC (10μl of 100U/ml ChABC intra-spinal injection injection), and hADSCs+ChABC. Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan tests were used to evaluate locomotor function. 8weeks after treatment, cavity size, myelination, cell differentiation (neuron and astrocyte), and chondroitin sulfate amount were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  hADSC transplanted animals, ChABC injected animals (P<0.001), and hADSC+ChABC treated rats (P<0.001) displayed significant motor improvement compared to SCI group. Combination therapy of hADSCs and ChABC led to greater locomotor recovery compared to using hADSCs (P<0.001) or ChABC (P<0.01) alone. Spinal cords in the combined and single therapy groups had cavities filled with myelinated areas and less chondroitin sulfate content in comparison with the control group (P<0.001). hADSCs expressed GFAP, B III tubulin and Map2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combination therapy with ChABC and hADSCs exhibits more significant functional recovery than single therapy using either. This result may be applicable in selection of the best therapeutic strategy for SCI.
authors.affiliation: Colorectal Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Arash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sarveazad
authors.affiliation: Liver & Digestive Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Asrin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Babahajian
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehrdad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bakhtiari
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mansoureh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soleimani
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biology, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran; NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Program, Common Fund, Office of the Director, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA Office of the Clinical Director, NHGRI, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Behnam
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Abazar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yari
authors.affiliation: Colorectal Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Abolfazl
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akbari
authors.affiliation: Physiology Research Center and Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yousefifard
authors.affiliation: Physiology Research Center and Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Atousa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Janzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Naser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Amini
authors.affiliation: Colorectal Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahram
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agah
authors.affiliation: Mede Bioeconomy Company, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fallah
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: Mt.joghataei@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mohammad Taghi
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Joghataei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D019765:Chondroitin ABC Lyase / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008297:Male; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019765:Chondroitin ABC Lyase
keywords: Animal model; Chondroitinase ABC; Spinal cord injuries; Stem cells; Synergic effect