Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2017, Vol. 12 ›› Issue (7): 1103-1110.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.211189

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Neural differentiation of human Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells improves the recovery of neurological function after transplantation in ischemic stroke rats

Lei Zhang1, Lin-mei Wang1, Wei-wei Chen2, Zhi Ma1, Xiao Han1, Cheng-ming Liu1, Xiang Cheng1, Wei Shi3, Jing-jing Guo1, Jian-bing Qin1, Xiao-qing Yang4, Guo-hua Jin1, 5, Xin-hua Zhang1, 5   

  1. 1 Department of Anatomy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China; 2 Department of Radiation Oncology, Third People’s Hospital of Yancheng, Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, China; 3 Department of Neurosurgery, the Affiliated Hosptial of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China; 4 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Affiliated Hosptial of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China; 5 Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
  • Received:2017-06-10 Online:2017-07-15 Published:2017-07-15
  • Contact: Xin-hua Zhang, Ph.D., zhangxinhua@ntu.edu.cn.
  • Supported by:

    This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 31171038; the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province of China, No. BK2011385; the “333” Program Funding of Jiangsu Province of China, No. BRA2016450; the Training Program of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Undergraduates of Nantong University of China, No. 201510304033Z, 201610304053Z; the Training Program of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Graduates of Nantong University of China, No. YKC14050, YKC15046; and a grant from Funds for the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China.

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Abstract:

Human Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hWJ-MSCs) have excellent proliferative ability, differentiation ability, low immunogenicity, and can be easily obtained. However, there are few studies on their application in the treatment of ischemic stroke, therefore their therapeutic effect requires further verification. In this study, hWJ-MSCs were transplanted into an ischemic stroke rat model via the tail vein 48 hours after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. After 4 weeks, neurological functions of the rats implanted with hWJ-MSCs were significantly recovered. Furthermore, many hWJ-MSCs homed to the ischemic frontal cortex whereby they differentiated into neuron-like cells at this region. These results confirm that hWJ-MSCs transplanted into the ischemic stroke rat can differentiate into neuron-like cells to improve rat neurological function and behavior.

Key words: nerve regeneration, human Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells, ischemic stroke, cell transplantation, middle cerebral artery occlusion, neural differentiation, neurological function, neural regeneration