人類臍帶血間葉幹細胞(hUCB-MSCs)可分化成神經細胞，目前已發現可用於治療中風，然而治療的有效性和安全性依據注射位置的不同而有差異。

科學家利用大鼠模式，比較以腰椎脊髓注射和靜脈注射的兩種方式，間葉幹細胞存活率、移動率、分化力和神經細胞壞死程度的情形。

研究結果發現，從腰椎脊髓注射人類臍帶血間葉幹細胞，較多幹細胞會存活下來，並跑到神經受損位置，分化成神經細胞(Neuron)和膠狀細胞(Astrocyte)，有效減少神經壞死程度。此發現可利於間葉幹細胞對其他腦神經疾病，如神經退化症的治療。

Introduction of Stem cell transplantation is a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of stroke

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a potential cell source for clinical application because they can be easily obtained and cultivated with a high proliferative capacity.

The safety and efficacy of cell therapy depends on the mode of cell administration. To determine the therapeutic potential of intrathecal administration of MSCs by lumbar puncture (LP), we administrated human umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs (hUCB-MSCs) intrathecally into the lumbar spinal cord or intravenously into the tail vein in a rat model of stroke, and then investigated whether hUCB-MSCs could enter the brain, survive, and improve poststroke neurological functional recovery.

Methods: hUCB-MSCs (1.0 x 106) were administrated 3 days after stroke induced by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery.

The presence of hUCB-MSCs and their survival and differentiation in the brain tissue of the rats was examined by immunohistochemistry. Recovery of the coordination of movement after administration of hUCB-MSCs was examined using a Rotarod test and adhesive-removal test on the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th days after ischemia.

The volume of ischemic lesions 7 days after the experimental procedure was evaluated using 2-3-5-triphenyltetrazolium (TTC) staining.

Results: Rats receiving hUCB-MSCs intrathecally by LP had a significantly higher number of migrated cells within the ischemic area when compared with animals receiving cells intravenously. In addition, many of the cells administered intrathecally survived and a subset of them expressed mature neural-lineage markers, including the mature neuron marker NeuN and glial fibrillary acidic protein, typical of astrocytes.

Importantly, intrathecal administration of 5 x 105 hUCB-MSCs significantly reduced ischemic damage, but not in the intravenously treated group. Furthermore, the cells administered intrathecally survived and migrated into the ischemic area more extensively, and differentiated significantly into neurons and astrocytes.

Conclusions: Together, these results indicate that intrathecal administration of MSCs by LP may be useful and feasible for MSCs treatment of brain injuries, such as stroke, or neurodegenerative disorders.

Author: Jung Yeon LimChang Hyun JeongJin Ae JunSeong Muk KimChung Heon RyuYun HouWonil OhJong Wook ChangSin-Soo Jeun
Credits/Source: Stem Cell Research &Therapy 2011, 2:38

http://7thspace.com/headlines/394882/therapeutic_effects_of_human_umbilical_cord_blood_derived_mesenchymal_stem_cells_after_intrathecal_administration_by_lumbar_puncture_in_a_rat_model_of_cerebral_ischemia_.html