Progressive increase in brain glucose metabolism after intrathecal administration of autologous mesenchymal stromal cells in patients with diffuse axonal injury.
Cell therapy in neurological disability after traumatic brain injury (TBI) is in its initial clinical stage. We describe our preliminary clinical experience with three patients with diffuse axonal injury (DAI) who were treated with intrathecal administration of autologous mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs).



Three patients with established neurological sequelae due to DAI received intrathecally autologous MSCs. The total number of MSCs administered was 60 × 106(one patient), 100 × 106(one patient) and 300 × 106(one patient).



All three patients showed improvement after cell therapy, and subsequent studies with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) showed a diffuse and progressive increase in brain glucose metabolism.



Our present results suggest benefit of intrathecal administration of MSCs in patients with DAI, as well as a relationship between this type of treatment and increase in brain glucose metabolism. These preliminary findings raise the question of convenience of assessing the potential benefit of intrathecal administration of MSCs for brain diseases in which a decrease in glucose metabolism represents a crucial pathophysiological finding, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other dementias.
Neurosurgery Service, Hospital Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain; Neurological Cell Therapy Unit, Hospital Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: jvaqueroc@telefonica.net.
Jesús
J
Vaquero
Neurological Cell Therapy Unit, Hospital Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
Mercedes
M
Zurita
Neurological Cell Therapy Unit, Hospital Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
Celia
C
Bonilla
Neurosurgery Service, Hospital Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain.
Cecilia
C
Fernández
Medical Intensive Care Service, Hospital Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain.
Juan J
JJ
Rubio
Nuclear Medicine Service, Hospital Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain.
Jorge
J
Mucientes
Nuclear Medicine Service, Hospital Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain.
Begoña
B
Rodriguez
San José Hospital Institute Foundation, Madrid, Spain.
Edelio
E
Blanco
San José Hospital Institute Foundation, Madrid, Spain.
Luis
L
Donis
D000328:Adult; D064592:Autografts; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D020833:Diffuse Axonal Injury / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005947:Glucose
alzheimer's disease; brain metabolism; cell therapy; diffuse axonal injury; mesenchymal stromal cells