Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2010, Vol. 14 ›› Issue (19): 3477-3482.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-8225.2010.19.012

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Transplantation of muscle-derived stem cells in vitro transfected with green fluorescent protein gene for repairing spinal cord injury in rats

Yang Biao1, Du Cheng-lin1, Mei Xi-fan2, Liu Chang3   

  1. 1Department of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an  710077, Shaanxi Province, China;
    2Department of Orthopaedics, 3Department of Endocrinology, First Affiliated Hospital, Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou  121000, Liaoning  Province, China
  • Online:2010-05-07 Published:2010-05-07
  • About author:Yang Biao, Master, Resident physician, Department of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an 710077, Shaanxi Province, China yangbiao1977@126.com
  • Supported by:

    the Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province, No. 20072204*;
    the Scientific Research Foundation of Hospital Affiliated to Xi’an Medical University, No. XYFY08-06*

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Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Muscle-derived stem cells (MDSCs) are easily extracted, isolated and amplified and have a pluripotent ability to differentiate into a variety of cells under certain conditions such as myocytes, cartilage cells and osteoblasts, even neural cells. Thus, MDSCs are ideal seed cells for repairing spinal cord injury in tissue engineering.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of MDSC transplantation on the locomotor recovery of hemisectioned spinal cord injury in rats.
METHODS: A total of 40 adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into transplantation group (n = 20) and control group (n = 20). Spinal cord hemisection was performed in all rats. At 9 days post-injury, MDSCs with green fluorescence protein (GFP) gene were transplanted into the injured spinal cord in transplantation group, while control group was treated with injection of an equal volume of phosphate buffered saline. The rat behaviors were assessed by slope test and Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) scale at 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after transplantation respectively. At the same time, the injured spinal cords were made into frozen sections and were observed through fluorescence microscope.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Spinal cord hemisection was successful in all rats, and no death was determined. At 1 week following MDSC transplantation, locomotor recovery was found in the transplantation and control groups. No significant difference was detected in tiltboard test and BBB scale (P > 0.05). At 2-4 weeks, the recovery was good in the transplantation group. Scores of tiltboard test and BBB scale were significantly greater in the transplantation group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Coordination in hindlimb activity, as well as forelimb and hindlimb activities were obviously better in transplantation group than in the control group. Under fluorescence microscope, MDSCs that were differentiated and marked with GFP grew well at the injured myeloid tissue and migrated following spinal nerve tract. Above-described results have suggested that MDSCs can grow well at the injured myeloid tissue and improve the locomotor recovery in rats with hemisectioned spinal cord injury. MDSC transplantation has therapeutic effect on hemisectioned spinal cord injury in rats.

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