title: Transplantation of hUC-MSCs seeded collagen scaffolds reduces scar formation and promotes functional recovery in canines with chronic spinal cord injury.
abstract: Spinal cord injury (SCI) can lead to locomotor deficits, and the repair of chronic SCI is considered one of the most challenging clinical problems. Although extensive studies have evaluated treatments for acute SCI in small animals, comparatively fewer studies have been conducted on large-animal SCI in the chronic phase, which is more clinically relevant. Here, we used a collagen-based biomaterial, named the NeuroRegen scaffold, loaded with human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) in a canine chronic SCI model. To generate chronic SCI, the T8 spinal cord segment was removed by complete transection of the spinal cord. Two months later, glial scar tissue was removed and a NeuroRegen scaffold was transplanted into the lesion area. Functionalized NeuroRegen scaffold implantation promoted both locomotor recovery and endogenous neurogenesis in the lesion area. Moreover, some newly generated neurons successfully matured into 5-HT-positive neurons at 1 year post-injury. In addition, many regenerated axon fibers in the lesion area exhibited remyelination and synapse formation at 1 year post-injury in the functionalized NeuroRegen scaffold group. In conclusion, the NeuroRegen scaffold functionalized with hUC-MSCs is a promising potential therapeutic approach to chronic SCI that promotes neuronal regeneration, reduces glial scar formation, and ultimately improves locomotor recovery.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Zhifeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Yannan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Sufang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Dingyang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Siyi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wanggou
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Institute, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
authors.forename: Caiping
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Xingjun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Jianwu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology*; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D055495:Neurogenesis; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen