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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition, where regenerative failure and cell loss lead to paralysis. The heterogeneous and time-sensitive pathophysiology has made it difficult to target tissue repair. Despite many medical advances, there are no effective regenerative therapies. As stem cells offer multi-targeted and environmentally responsive benefits, cell therapy is a promising treatment approach. Areas covered: This review highlights the cell therapies being investigated for SCI, including Schwann cells, olfactory ensheathing cells, mensenchymal stem/stromal cells, neural precursors, oligodendrocyte progenitors, embryonic stem cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells. Through mechanisms of cell replacement, scaffolding, trophic support and immune modulation, each approach targets unique features of SCI pathology. However, as the injury is multifaceted, it is increasingly recognized that a combinatorial approach will be necessary to treat SCI. Expert opinion: Most preclinical studies, and an increasing number of clinical trials, are finding that single cell therapies have only modest benefits after SCI. These considerations, alongside issues of therapy cost-effectiveness, need to be addressed at the bench. In addition to exploring combinatorial strategies, researchers should consider cell reproducibility and storage parameters when designing animal experiments. Equally important, clinical trials must follow strict regulatory guidelines that will enable transparency of results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Badner
- a Department of Genetics and Development , Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network , Toronto , ON , Canada.,b Institute of Medical Sciences , University of Toronto , Toronto , ON , Canada
| | - Ahad M Siddiqui
- a Department of Genetics and Development , Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network , Toronto , ON , Canada
| | - Michael G Fehlings
- a Department of Genetics and Development , Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network , Toronto , ON , Canada.,b Institute of Medical Sciences , University of Toronto , Toronto , ON , Canada.,c Canada Spinal Program , University Health Network, Toronto Western Hospital , Toronto , ON , Canada
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Chen C, Chen F, Yao C, Shu S, Feng J, Hu X, Hai Q, Yao S, Chen X. Intrathecal Injection of Human Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Ameliorates Neuropathic Pain in Rats. Neurochem Res 2016; 41:3250-3260. [PMID: 27655256 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-016-2051-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2016] [Revised: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 08/27/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Neuropathic pain (NP) is a clinically incurable disease with miscellaneous causes, complicated mechanisms and available therapies show poor curative effect. Some recent studies have indicated that neuroinflammation plays a vital role in the occurrence and promotion of NP and anti-inflammatory therapy has the potential to relieve the pain. During the past decades, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with properties of multipotentiality, low immunogenicity and anti-inflammatory activity have showed excellent therapeutic effects in cell therapy from animal models to clinical application, thus aroused great attention. However there are no reports about the effect of intrathecal human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HUC-MSCs) on NP which is induced by peripheral nerve injury. Therefore, in this study, intrathecally transplanted HUC-MSCs were utilized to examine the effect on neuropathic pain induced by a rat model with spinal nerve ligation (SNL), so as to explore the possible mechanism of those effects. As shown in the results, the HUC-MSCs transplantation obviously ameliorated SNL-induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia, which was related to the inhibiting process of neuroinflammation, including the suppression of activated astrocytes and microglia, as well as the significant reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and Interleukin -17A (IL-17A) and the up-regulation of anti-inflammatory cytokine Interleukin -10 (IL-10). Therefore, through the effect on glial cells, pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine, the targeting intrathecal HUC-MSCs may offer a novel treatment strategy for NP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunxiu Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Institute of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Fengfeng Chen
- Huaxi MR Research Center, Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Chengye Yao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Institute of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Shaofang Shu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Institute of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Juan Feng
- Department of Anesthesiology, Institute of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Department of Anesthesia, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Henyang, China
| | - Xiaoling Hu
- Department of Anesthesia, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Henyang, China
| | - Quan Hai
- Sichuan Province Regenerative Medicine Engineering Technology Research Center, Chengdu, China
| | - Shanglong Yao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Institute of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiangdong Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Institute of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
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Quaranta P, Focosi D, Freer G, Pistello M. Tweaking Mesenchymal Stem/Progenitor Cell Immunomodulatory Properties with Viral Vectors Delivering Cytokines. Stem Cells Dev 2016; 25:1321-41. [PMID: 27476883 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2016.0145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) can be found in various body sites. Their main role is to differentiate into cartilage, bone, muscle, and fat cells to allow tissue maintenance and repair. During inflammation, MSCs exhibit important immunomodulatory properties that are not constitutive, but require activation, upon which they may exert immunosuppressive functions. MSCs are defined as "sensors of inflammation" since they modulate their ability of interfering with the immune system both in vitro and in vivo upon interaction with different factors. MSCs may influence immune responses through different mechanisms, such as direct cell-to-cell contact, release of soluble factors, and through the induction of anergy and apoptosis. Human MSCs are defined as plastic-adherent cells expressing specific surface molecules. Lack of MHC class II antigens makes them appealing as allogeneic tools for the therapy of both autoimmune diseases and cancer. MSC therapeutic potential could be highly enhanced by the expression of exogenous cytokines provided by transduction with viral vectors. In this review, we attempt to summarize the results of a great number of in vitro and in vivo studies aimed at improving the ability of MSCs as immunomodulators in the therapy of autoimmune, degenerative diseases and cancer. We will also compare results obtained with different vectors to deliver heterologous genes to these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Quaranta
- 1 Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Virology Section and Retrovirus Center, University of Pisa , Pisa, Italy
| | - Daniele Focosi
- 2 North-Western Tuscany Blood Bank, Pisa University Hospital , Pisa, Italy
| | - Giulia Freer
- 1 Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Virology Section and Retrovirus Center, University of Pisa , Pisa, Italy .,3 Virology Unit, Pisa University Hospital , Pisa, Italy
| | - Mauro Pistello
- 1 Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Virology Section and Retrovirus Center, University of Pisa , Pisa, Italy .,3 Virology Unit, Pisa University Hospital , Pisa, Italy
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