Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Studies have demonstrated that concentration of cytokines in the peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid of Alzheimer’s disease patients changes greatly compared with that in the healthy persons, which adds evidence to the conclusion that Alzheimer’s disease is followed by immune response. This suggests that inflammatory response possibly participates in the cascade reaction of neuropathy in Alzheimer’s disease.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between immune response and the level of each cytokine in the peripheral blood in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease after transplantation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs).
METHODS: Passage 5 hUCMSCs at a density of 1×109/L were prepared for use. C57 mice were randomly divided into four groups. In the hUCMSCs group, lateral ventricle injection of β-amyloid 1-42 and caudal vein injection of 1 mL hUCMSCs were performed. In the model group, lateral ventricle injection of β-amyloid 1-42 and caudal vein injection of 1 mL physiological saline were performed. In the physiological saline group, Alzheimer’s disease was not induced, but equal amounts of physiological saline were administered via the caudal vein. In the normal group, Alzheimer’s disease was not induced, and no treatment was given.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Morris water maze test results showed that compared with normal group, escape latency was prolonged, and the time spent in passing through the platform for the first time was increased, while the number that mice crossed through the platform was decreased in the model group. Compared with the model group, the escape latency was slightly shortened, the time spent in passing through the platform for the first time was decreased, and the number that mice crossed through the platform was slightly, but not significantly, increased in the hUCMSCs group. Compared with the normal group, N-acetylaspartic acid was decreased and myo-inositol was increased at 4 days after Alzheimer’s disease induction, and interleukin 1β, tumor necrosis factor-α in the peripheral blood were increased, but the increase in interleukin 10 was not obvious at 7 days after Alzheimer’s disease induction in the model group. Compared with the model group, level of each cytokine was decreased at 7 days after hUCMSCs injection. These results suggest that hUCMSCs for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease is implemented by regulation of immune response.