Transplantation of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells encapsulated in RADA16-BDNF hydrogel promotes neurological recovery in an intracerebral hemorrhage rat model

doi:10.12307/2022.084

Abstract

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an important role in inducing neural differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells and protecting the survival of endogenous neurons. In our previous study, we constructed the polypeptide hydrogel scaffold, RADA16-BDNF and proved it possess excellent cellular and brain tissue compatibility. The BDNF released from RADA16-BDNF hydrogel may benefit for neural differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect and potential mechanism of transplantation of RADA16-BDNF hydrogel scaffold with mesenchymal stem cells encapsulated for neuronal regeneration and neurological recovery in cerebral hemorrhage rat model.
METHODS: (1) Atomic force microscope and scanning electron microscope analysis were conducted to observe the surface structure of RADA16-BDNF hydrogel scaffold with or without umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells. (2) RADA16-BDNF hydrogel with umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells encapsulated was cultured in vitro, and single umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell was used as control. Immunofluorescence staining was conducted to detect the expression of Ki-67 and β-Tubulin III and cell morphology. (3) The cerebral hemorrhage rat models were conducted by autologous blood stereotactic injection. RADA16-BDNF polypeptide hydrogel or PBS (100 µL) with umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (PKH26 labeled) was injected directionally. The escape time was detected by water maze test at different time after transplantation, and the recovery of neurological function was evaluated. Microtubule-associated protein 2 was detected by immunofluorescence staining 60 days later.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) RADA16-BDNF hydrogel scaffold possessed the micro-pore structure and the pores provided a space for adherence and survival for encapsulated cells. (2) RADA16-BDNF hydrogel scaffold promoted the proliferation and neuronal differentiation of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells in vitro (P < 0.05), and the micro-pore structure promoted the extension of nerve dendrites. (3) RADA16-BDNF hydrogel scaffolds can promote the umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells to survive and differentiate into neurons in the rat brain and improve the recovery of neurological function.

Key words: umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells, neuronal regeneration, polypeptide hydrogel, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, intracerebral hemorrhage

CLC Number:

Huang Chuanjun, Zou Yu, Zhou Xiaoting, Zhu Yangqing, Qian Wei, Zhang Wei, Liu Xing. Transplantation of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells encapsulated in RADA16-BDNF hydrogel promotes neurological recovery in an intracerebral hemorrhage rat model[J]. Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research, 2022, 26(4): 510-515.

Figures/Tables 5

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