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Liu X, Jia X. Neuroprotection of Stem Cells Against Ischemic Brain Injury: From Bench to Clinic. Transl Stroke Res 2024; 15:691-713. [PMID: 37415004 PMCID: PMC10771544 DOI: 10.1007/s12975-023-01163-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Neurological injuries can have numerous debilitating effects on functional status including sensorimotor deficits, cognitive impairment, and behavioral symptoms. Despite the disease burden, treatment options remain limited. Current pharmacological interventions are targeted at symptom management but are ineffective in reversing ischemic brain damage. Stem cell therapy for ischemic brain injury has shown promising preclinical and clinical results and has attracted attention as a potential therapeutic option. Various stem cell sources (embryonic, mesenchymal/bone marrow, and neural stem cells) have been investigated. This review provides an overview of the advances made in our understanding of the various types of stem cells and progress made in the use of these stem cells for the treatment of ischemic brain injuries. In particular, the use of stem cell therapy in global cerebral ischemia following cardiac arrest and in focal cerebral ischemia after ischemic stroke are discussed. The proposed mechanisms of stem cells' neuroprotective effects in animal models (rat/mice, pig/swine) and other clinical studies, different routes of administration (intravenous/intra-arterial/intracerebroventricular/intranasal/intraperitoneal/intracranial) and stem cell preconditioning are discussed. Much of the promising data on stem cell therapies after ischemic brain injury remains in the experimental stage and several limitations remain unsettled. Future investigation is needed to further assess the safety and efficacy and to overcome the remaining obstacles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Xiaofeng Jia
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
- Department of Orthopedics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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Wang Z, Zhang S, Du J, Lachance BB, Chen S, Polster BM, Jia X. Neuroprotection of NSC Therapy is Superior to Glibenclamide in Cardiac Arrest-Induced Brain Injury via Neuroinflammation Regulation. Transl Stroke Res 2023; 14:723-739. [PMID: 35921049 PMCID: PMC9895128 DOI: 10.1007/s12975-022-01047-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Cardiac arrest (CA) is common and devastating, and neuroprotective therapies for brain injury after CA remain limited. Neuroinflammation has been a target for two promising but underdeveloped post-CA therapies: neural stem cell (NSC) engrafting and glibenclamide (GBC). It is critical to understand whether one therapy has superior efficacy over the other and to further understand their immunomodulatory mechanisms. In this study, we aimed to evaluate and compare the therapeutic effects of NSC and GBC therapies post-CA. In in vitro studies, BV2 cells underwent oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) for three hours and were then treated with GBC or co-cultured with human NSCs (hNSCs). Microglial polarization phenotype and TLR4/NLRP3 inflammatory pathway proteins were detected by immunofluorescence staining. Twenty-four Wistar rats were randomly assigned to three groups (control, GBC, and hNSCs, N = 8/group). After 8 min of asphyxial CA, GBC was injected intraperitoneally or hNSCs were administered intranasally in the treatment groups. Neurological-deficit scores (NDSs) were assessed at 24, 48, and 72 h after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Immunofluorescence was used to track hNSCs and quantitatively evaluate microglial activation subtype and polarization. The expression of TLR4/NLRP3 pathway-related proteins was quantified via Western blot. The in vitro studies showed the highest proportion of activated BV2 cells with an increased expression of TLR4/NLRP3 signaling proteins were found in the OGD group compared to OGD + GBC and OGD + hNSCs groups. NDS showed significant improvement after CA in hNSC and GBC groups compared to controls, and hNSC treatment was superior to GBC treatment. The hNSC group had more inactive morphology and anti-inflammatory phenotype of microglia. The quantified expression of TLR4/NLRP3 pathway-related proteins was significantly suppressed by both treatments, and the suppression was more significant in the hNSC group compared to the GBC group. hNSC and GBC therapy regulate microglial activation and the neuroinflammatory response in the brain after CA through TLR4/NLRP3 signaling and exert multiple neuroprotective effects, including improved neurological function and shortened time of severe neurological deficit. In addition, hNSCs displayed superior inflammatory regulation over GBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuoran Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Shuai Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Jian Du
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Brittany Bolduc Lachance
- Program in Trauma, Department of Neurology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Songyu Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Brian M Polster
- Anesthesiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Xiaofeng Jia
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
- Orthopedics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
- Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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Achón Buil B, Tackenberg C, Rust R. Editing a gateway for cell therapy across the blood-brain barrier. Brain 2022; 146:823-841. [PMID: 36397727 PMCID: PMC9976985 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cell therapy has been shown to improve stroke outcomes in animal models and is currently advancing towards clinical practice. However, uncertainty remains regarding the optimal route for cell delivery to the injured brain. Local intracerebral injections are effective in precisely delivering cells into the stroke cavity but carry the risk of damaging adjacent healthy tissue. Systemic endovascular injections, meanwhile, are minimally invasive, but most injected cells do not cross CNS barriers and become mechanically trapped in peripheral organs. Although the blood-brain barrier and the blood-CSF barrier tightly limit the entrance of cells and molecules into the brain parenchyma, immune cells can cross these barriers especially under pathological conditions, such as stroke. Deciphering the cell surface signature and the molecular mechanisms underlying this pathophysiological process holds promise for improving the targeted delivery of systemic injected cells to the injured brain. In this review, we describe experimental approaches that have already been developed in which (i) cells are either engineered to express cell surface proteins mimicking infiltrating immune cells; or (ii) cell grafts are preconditioned with hypoxia or incubated with pharmacological agents or cytokines. Modified cell grafts can be complemented with strategies to temporarily increase the permeability of the blood-brain barrier. Although these approaches could significantly enhance homing of stem cells into the injured brain, cell entrapment in off-target organs remains a non-negligible risk. Recent developments in safety-switch systems, which enable the precise elimination of transplanted cells on the administration of a drug, represent a promising strategy for selectively removing stem cells stuck in untargeted organs. In sum, the techniques described in this review hold great potential to substantially improve efficacy and safety of future cell therapies in stroke and may be relevant to other brain diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Achón Buil
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, 8952 Schlieren, Switzerland,Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Tackenberg
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, 8952 Schlieren, Switzerland,Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ruslan Rust
- Correspondence to: Ruslan Rust Institute for Regenerative Medicine Wagistrasse 12, 8952 Schlieren Zurich, Switzerland E-mail:
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Yoon EJ, Seong HR, Kyung J, Kim D, Park S, Choi EK, Kim YB, Park D. Stamina-Enhancing Effects of Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells. Cell Transplant 2021; 30:9636897211035409. [PMID: 34318707 PMCID: PMC8323423 DOI: 10.1177/09636897211035409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Stamina-enhancing effects of human adipose derived stem cells (hADSCs) were
investigated in young Sprague-Dawley rats. Ten-day-old male rats were
transplanted intravenously (IV) or intracerebroventricularly (ICV) with hADSCs
(1 × 106 cells/rat), and physical activity was measured by locomotor
activity and rota-rod performance at post-natal day (PND) 14, 20, 30, and 40, as
well as a forced swimming test at PND 41. hADSCs injection increased the moving
time in locomotor activity, the latency in rota-rod performance, and the maximum
swimming time. For the improvement of physical activity, ICV transplantation was
superior to IV injection. In biochemical analyses, ICV transplantation of hADSCs
markedly reduced serum creatine phosphokinase, lactate dehydrogenase, alanine
transaminase, and muscular lipid peroxidation, the markers for muscular and
hepatic injuries, despite the reduction in muscular glycogen and serum
triglycerides as energy sources. Notably, hADSCs secreted brain-derived
neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor in vitro, and increased the
level of BDNF in the brain and muscles in vivo. The results indicate that hADSCs
enhance physical activity including stamina not only by attenuating tissue
injury, but also by strengthening the muscles via production of BDNF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun-Jung Yoon
- Department of Biology Education, Korea National University of Education, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Hye Rim Seong
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea.,Central Research Institute, Designed Cells Co., Ltd., Cheongju, Korea
| | - Jangbeen Kyung
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Dajeong Kim
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Sangryong Park
- Central Research Institute, Designed Cells Co., Ltd., Cheongju, Korea
| | - Ehn-Kyoung Choi
- Central Research Institute, Designed Cells Co., Ltd., Cheongju, Korea
| | - Yun-Bae Kim
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea.,Central Research Institute, Designed Cells Co., Ltd., Cheongju, Korea
| | - Dongsun Park
- Department of Biology Education, Korea National University of Education, Cheongju, Korea
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Wang Z, Du J, Lachance BB, Mascarenhas C, He J, Jia X. Intracerebroventricular Administration of hNSCs Improves Neurological Recovery after Cardiac Arrest in Rats. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2020; 17:923-937. [PMID: 33140234 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-020-10067-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Irreversible brain injury and neurological dysfunction induced by cardiac arrest (CA) have long been a clinical challenge due to lack of effective therapeutic interventions to reverse neuronal loss and prevent secondary reperfusion injury. The neuronal regenerative potential of neural stem cells (NSCs) provides a possible solution to this clinical deficit. We investigated the neuronal recovery potential of human neural stem cells (hNSCs) via intracerebroventricular (ICV) xenotransplantation after CA in rats and the effects of transplanted NSCs on the proliferation and migration of endogenous NSCs. Outcome measures included neurological functional recovery measured by neurological deficit score (NDS), electrophysiologic analysis of EEG, and assessment of proliferation and migration at the cellular level and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway at the molecular level. Neurological functional assessment based on aggregate neurological deficit score (NDS) showed better recovery of function after hNSCs therapy (P < 0.05). Tracking of stem cells' proliferation with Ki67 antibody suggested that the NSCs group had more prominent proliferation compared to control group (number of Ki67+ cells, Control VS. NSC: 89.0 ± 31.6 VS. 352.7 ± 97.3, P < 0.05). In addition, cell migration tracked by Dcx antibody showed more Dcx + cells migrated to the far distance zone from SVZ in the treatment group (P < 0.05). Further immunofluorescence staining confirmed that the expression of the Wnt signaling pathway protein (β-catenin) was upregulated in the NSC group (P < 0.05). ICV delivery of hNSCs promotes endogenous NSC proliferation and migration and ultimately enhances neuronal survival and neurological functional recovery. Wnt/β-catenin pathway may be involved in the initiation and maintenance of this enhancement.Graphical abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuoran Wang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 43007, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 10 South Pine Street, MSTF Building 823, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Jian Du
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 10 South Pine Street, MSTF Building 823, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Brittany Bolduc Lachance
- Program in Trauma, Department of Neurology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Conrad Mascarenhas
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 10 South Pine Street, MSTF Building 823, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Junyun He
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 10 South Pine Street, MSTF Building 823, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Xiaofeng Jia
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 10 South Pine Street, MSTF Building 823, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA. .,Department of Orthopedics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA. .,Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA. .,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. .,Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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Zhang S, Lachance BB, Moiz B, Jia X. Optimizing Stem Cell Therapy after Ischemic Brain Injury. J Stroke 2020; 22:286-305. [PMID: 33053945 PMCID: PMC7568970 DOI: 10.5853/jos.2019.03048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cells have been used for regenerative and therapeutic purposes in a variety of diseases. In ischemic brain injury, preclinical studies have been promising, but have failed to translate results to clinical trials. We aimed to explore the application of stem cells after ischemic brain injury by focusing on topics such as delivery routes, regeneration efficacy, adverse effects, and in vivo potential optimization. PUBMED and Web of Science were searched for the latest studies examining stem cell therapy applications in ischemic brain injury, particularly after stroke or cardiac arrest, with a focus on studies addressing delivery optimization, stem cell type comparison, or translational aspects. Other studies providing further understanding or potential contributions to ischemic brain injury treatment were also included. Multiple stem cell types have been investigated in ischemic brain injury treatment, with a strong literature base in the treatment of stroke. Studies have suggested that stem cell administration after ischemic brain injury exerts paracrine effects via growth factor release, blood-brain barrier integrity protection, and allows for exosome release for ischemic injury mitigation. To date, limited studies have investigated these therapeutic mechanisms in the setting of cardiac arrest or therapeutic hypothermia. Several delivery modalities are available, each with limitations regarding invasiveness and safety outcomes. Intranasal delivery presents a potentially improved mechanism, and hypoxic conditioning offers a potential stem cell therapy optimization strategy for ischemic brain injury. The use of stem cells to treat ischemic brain injury in clinical trials is in its early phase; however, increasing preclinical evidence suggests that stem cells can contribute to the down-regulation of inflammatory phenotypes and regeneration following injury. The safety and the tolerability profile of stem cells have been confirmed, and their potent therapeutic effects make them powerful therapeutic agents for ischemic brain injury patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Brittany Bolduc Lachance
- Program in Trauma, Department of Neurology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Bilal Moiz
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Xiaofeng Jia
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Orthopedics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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