Open AccessTherapeutic potential of in utero mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) transplantation in rat foetuses with spina bifida aperta
Author(s) -
Li Hui,
Gao Fei,
Ma Lili,
Jiang Junhong,
Miao Jianing,
Jiang Mingyu,
Fan Yang,
Wang Lili,
Wu Di,
Liu Bo,
Wang Weilin,
Lui Vincent Chi Hang,
Yuan Zhengwei
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of cellular and molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.44
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1582-4934
pISSN - 1582-1838
DOI - 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2011.01470.x
Subject(s) - mesenchymal stem cell , spina bifida , in utero , transplantation , medicine , stem cell , biology , fetus , surgery , pathology , pregnancy , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics
Neural tube defects (NTDs) are complex congenital malformations resulting from incomplete neurulation in embryo. Despite surgical repair of the defect, most of the patients who survive with NTDs have a multiple system handicap due to neuron deficiency of the defective spinal cord. In this study, we successfully devised a prenatal surgical approach and transplanted mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to foetal rat spinal column to treat retinoic acid induced NTDs in rat. Transplanted MSCs survived, grew and expressed markers of neurons, glia and myoblasts in the defective spinal cord. MSCs expressed and perhaps induced the surrounding spinal tissue to express neurotrophic factors. In addition, MSC reduced spinal tissue apoptosis in NTD. Our results suggested that prenatal MSC transplantation could treat spinal neuron deficiency in NTDs by the regeneration of neurons and reduced spinal neuron death in the defective spinal cord.