人类脐带血间叶干细胞(hUCB-MSCs)可分化成神经细胞，目前已发现可用于治疗中风，然而治疗的有效性和安全性依据注射位置的不同而有差异。

科学家利用大鼠模式，比较以腰椎脊髓注射和静脉注射的两种方式，间叶干细胞存活率、移动率、分化力和神经细胞坏死程度的情形。

研究结果发现，从腰椎脊髓注射人类脐带血间叶干细胞，较多干细胞会存活下来，并跑到神经受损位置，分化成神经细胞(Neuron)和胶状细胞(Astrocyte)，有效减少神经坏死程度。此发现可利于间叶干细胞对其他脑神经疾病，如神经退化症的治疗。

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