Improvement of hind-limb paralysis following traumatic spinal cord injury in rats by grafting normal human keratinocytes: new cell-therapy strategy for nerve regeneration

Transplantation of purified autologous leukapheresis-derived CD34+ and CD133+ stem cells for patients with chronic spinal cord injuries: long-term evaluation of safety and efficacy

This study is aimed at describing a novel method for treating patients with chronic complete spinal cord injuries (SCIs) by utilizing autologous, purified CD34(+) and CD133(+) stem cells (SCs). The study focuses on the safety and efficacy of transplanting unmanipulated, autologous, purified stem cells in treated patients during a 5-year follow-up period. In this report, 19 patients were included (16 males and 3 females) who presented with a complete SCI (ASIA-A) in the thoracic region. The patients' endogenous cells were mobilized with subcutaneous granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for 5 days. We utilized the CliniMACS magnetic separation system to purify leukapheresis-derived CD34(+) and CD133(+) SCs. Purified SCs were directly transplanted into the SCI site. Patients were then monitored and followed for up to 5 years. On average, 76 × 10(6) purified SCs were obtained from each patient, with 95.2% purity and >98% viability. SC transplantation into the cyst cavity or the subarachnoid space was successful and well tolerated in all 19 patients and did not cause any allergic or inflammatory reactions within the CNS in the early or late periods after transplantation. Ten patients (53%) showed no improvement after 42-60 months (ASIA-A), while seven patients (37%) demonstrated segmental sensory improvement (ASIA-B), and the remaining two patients (10%) had motor improvement (ASIA-C). This study presents a safe method for transplanting specific populations of purified autologous SCs that can be used to treat SCIs in a clinical setting. The results may be utilized as a stepping-stone for future investigations in the field of regenerative medicine for treatment of SCIs and other neurological diseases. This manuscript is published as part of the International Association of Neurorestoratology (IANR) special issue of Cell Transplantation.

Fibroblasts isolated from human middle turbinate mucosa cause neural progenitor cells to differentiate into glial lineage cells

Transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) is a potential therapy for repair of spinal cord injury (SCI). Autologous transplantation of OECs has been reported in clinical trials. However, it is still controversial whether purified OECs or olfactory mucosa containing OECs, fibroblasts and other cells should be used for transplantation. OECs and fibroblasts were isolated from olfactory mucosa of the middle turbinate from seven patients. The percentage of OECs with p75^NTR+ and GFAP⁺ ranged from 9.2% to 73.2%. Fibroblasts were purified and co-cultured with normal human neural progenitors (NHNPs). Based on immunocytochemical labeling, NHNPs were induced into glial lineage cells when they were co-cultured with the mucosal fibroblasts. These results demonstrate that OECs can be isolated from the mucosa of the middle turbinate bone as well as from the dorsal nasal septum and superior turbinates, which are the typical sites for harvesting OECs. Transplantation of olfactory mucosa containing fibroblasts into the central nervous system (CNS) needs to be further investigated before translation to clinical application.