Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2014, Vol. 9 ›› Issue (24): 2197-2204.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.147953

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Transplantation of placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cell-induced neural stem cells to treat spinal cord injury

Zhi Li 1, Wei Zhao 1, Wei Liu 2, Ye Zhou 2, Jingqiao Jia 3, Lifeng Yang 1   

  1. 1 Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Central Hospital of Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
    2 Department of Obstetrics, Affiliated Central Hospital of Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
    3 Liaoning Province Wellcare Stem Cells Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Benxi, Liaoning Province, China
  • Received:2014-11-09 Online:2014-12-25 Published:2014-12-25
  • Contact: Lifeng Yang, Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Central Hospital of Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang 110024, Liaoning Province, China,lz8534@sina.com.
  • Supported by:

    This study was supported by a grant from the Scientific Research Program of Liaoning Provincial Science and Technology Ministry in China, No. 2012225014.

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Abstract:

Because of their strong proliferative capacity and multi-potency, placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells have gained interest as a cell source in the field of nerve damage repair. In the present study, human placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells were induced to differentiate into neural stem cells, which were then transplanted into the spinal cord after local spinal cord injury in rats. The motor functional recovery and pathological changes in the injured spinal cord were observed for 3 successive weeks. The results showed that human placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells can differentiate into neuron-like cells and that induced neural stem cells contribute to the restoration of injured spinal cord without causing transplant rejection. Thus, these cells promote the recovery of motor and sensory functions in a rat model of spinal cord injury. Therefore, human placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells may be useful as seed cells during the repair of spinal cord injury.

Key words: nerve regeneration, stem cells, placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells, spinal cord injury, neural stem cells, nerve-like cells, motor function, sensory function, neural regeneration