Gholam R Kaka1, Taki Tiraihi2,3, Alireza Delshad4, Taher Taheri3, Hadi Kazemi3, Hayder K Hassoun5. 1. Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University Tehran, Iran. 2. Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University Tehran, Iran - takialtr@modares.ac.ir. 3. Shefa Neuroscience Research Center, Khatam Al-Anbia Hospital, Tehran, Iran. 4. Department of Anatomy, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran. 5. Middle Euphrates Neuroscience Center, College of Medicine, Kufa University, Annajaf Al-Ashraf, Iraq.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Demyelination is a common lesion in spinal cord injury, cell therapy is one of the approaches for replacing the lost oligodendrocytes. In this study, bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) have been transdifferentiated into oligodendrocyte-like cells (OLCs) and used in cytotherapy of contused spinal cords in rats. METHODS: The BMSCs were collected from the rat long bones, and cultured and characterized by different markers, then they were preinduced with dimethyl sulfoxide followed by retinoic acid, and then the preinduced cells were induced with combination of basic fibroblast growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor and heregulin, followed by triiodothyronine. The OLCs were transplanted in the contused spinal cords of the rats, combined with undifferentiated BMSCs. Specific markers were used in order to characterize the cells by immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction. The BMSCs showed typical immnuoreactivity to the markers, and the OLCs were immunostained with specific markers. RESULTS: There was an improvement in the Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan score with reduction in the cavitation in the contused rats treated with OLCs combined with BMSCs. The transplanted cells were detected in the contused spinal cord. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of the transdifferentiated BMSCs into OLCs with the undifferentiated BMSCs improved the contused spinal cord.
BACKGROUND: Demyelination is a common lesion in spinal cord injury, cell therapy is one of the approaches for replacing the lost oligodendrocytes. In this study, bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) have been transdifferentiated into oligodendrocyte-like cells (OLCs) and used in cytotherapy of contused spinal cords in rats. METHODS: The BMSCs were collected from the rat long bones, and cultured and characterized by different markers, then they were preinduced with dimethyl sulfoxide followed by retinoic acid, and then the preinduced cells were induced with combination of basic fibroblast growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor and heregulin, followed by triiodothyronine. The OLCs were transplanted in the contused spinal cords of the rats, combined with undifferentiated BMSCs. Specific markers were used in order to characterize the cells by immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction. The BMSCs showed typical immnuoreactivity to the markers, and the OLCs were immunostained with specific markers. RESULTS: There was an improvement in the Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan score with reduction in the cavitation in the contused rats treated with OLCs combined with BMSCs. The transplanted cells were detected in the contused spinal cord. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of the transdifferentiated BMSCs into OLCs with the undifferentiated BMSCs improved the contused spinal cord.