Human mesenchymal stem cells derived from Wharton's jelly (WJ-MSCs) were used for the treatment of the ischemic-compression model of spinal cord injury in rats. To assess the effectivity of the treatment, different dosages (0.5 or 1.5 million cells) and repeated applications were compared. Cells or saline were applied intrathecally by lumbar puncture for one week only, or in three consecutive weeks after injury. Rats were assessed for locomotor skills (BBB, rotarod, flat beam) for 9 weeks. Spinal cord tissue was morphometrically analyzed for axonal sprouting, sparing of gray and white matter and astrogliosis. Endogenous gene expression (Gfap, Casp3, Irf5, Cd86, Mrc1, Cd163) was studied with quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT PCR). Significant recovery of functional outcome was observed in all of the treated groups except for the single application of the lowest number of cells. Histochemical analyses revealed a gradually increasing effect of grafted cells, resulting in a significant increase in the number of GAP43+ fibers, a higher amount of spared gray matter and reduced astrogliosis. mRNA expression of macrophage markers and apoptosis was downregulated after the repeated application of 1.5 million cells. We conclude that the effect of hWJ-MSCs on spinal cord regeneration is dose-dependent and potentiated by repeated application.

• Klíčová slova
• Wharton’s jelly, astrogliosis, axonal growth, human mesenchymal stem cells, inflammatory response, neuroregeneration, spinal cord injury,
• MeSH
• apoptóza MeSH
• astrocyty MeSH
• axony metabolismus   MeSH
• bílá hmota metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• biologické markery MeSH
• buněčná diferenciace MeSH
• exprese genu MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• kultivované buňky MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lokomoce MeSH
• mezenchymální kmenové buňky cytologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
• poranění míchy diagnóza   etiologie   metabolismus   terapie   MeSH
• šedá hmota metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• transplantace mezenchymálních kmenových buněk * MeSH
• viabilita buněk MeSH
• Whartonův rosol cytologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• biologické markery MeSH

Off-the-shelf availability of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (ASCs) for regenerative medicine application requires the development of nontoxic, safe, and efficient protocols for cryopreservation. Favorably, such cell processing protocols should not contain xenogeneic or toxic components, such as fetal bovine serum (FS) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The objective of the study was to assess the sensitivity of ASCs to DMSO-free cryopreservation protocol depending on their expansion conditions: conventional, based on the application of FS or xeno-free, using PL as a medium supplement. ASCs expansion was carried out in α-MEM supplemented either with FS or PL. For DMSO- and xeno-free cryopreservation ASCs were pretreated with different concentrations of sucrose during 24 h of culture. Pretreated ASCs were cryopreserved in α-MEM containing 100-300 mM of sucrose with the cooling rate of 1 degree/min. ASCs were tested for survival (Trypan Blue test), viability (MTT test), recovery (Alamar Blue test), proliferation and ability to multilineage differentiation. The optimal concentrations of sucrose for ASCs pretreatment and as an additive in cryoprotective solution, which provided highest cell survival, comprised 100 and 200 mM, correspondingly. Survival and recovery rates of platelet lysate (PL)-expanded ASCs after DMSO-free cryopreservation comprised 59 and 51%, and were higher than in FS-cultured cells. After DMSO-free cryopreservation PL-processed ASCs had a shorter population doubling time and higher capacity for osteogenic differentiation than FS-processed cultures. The described DMSO- and xeno-free processing may form the basis for the development of safe and efficient protocols for manufacturing and banking of ASCs, providing their off-the-shelf availability for regenerative medicine applications.

• Klíčová slova
• DMSO-free cryopreservation, Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells, Platelet lysate, Sucrose pretreatment, Xeno-free expansion,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

1. Emerging clinical studies of treating brain and spinal cord injury (SCI) led us to examine the effect of autologous adult stem cell transplantation as well as the use of polymer scaffolds in spinal cord regeneration. We compared an intravenous injection of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) or the injection of a freshly prepared mononuclear fraction of bone marrow cells (BMCs) on the treatment of an acute or chronic balloon-induced spinal cord compression lesion in rats. Based on our experimental studies, autologous BMC implantation has been used in a Phase I/II clinical trial in patients (n=20) with a transversal spinal cord lesion. 2. MSCs were isolated from rat bone marrow by their adherence to plastic, labeled with iron-oxide nanoparticles and expanded in vitro. Macroporous hydrogels based on derivatives of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) or 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylamide (HPMA) were prepared, then modified by their copolymerization with a hydrolytically degradable crosslinker, N,O-dimethacryloylhydroxylamine, or by different surface electric charges. Hydrogels or hydrogels seeded with MSCs were implanted into rats with hemisected spinal cords. 3. Lesioned animals grafted with MSCs or BMCs had smaller lesions 35 days postgrafting and higher scores in BBB testing than did control animals and also showed a faster recovery of sensitivity in their hind limbs using the plantar test. The functional improvement was more pronounced in MSC-treated rats. In MR images, the lesion populated by grafted cells appeared as a dark hypointense area and was considerably smaller than in control animals. Morphometric measurements showed an increase in the volume of spared white matter in cell-treated animals. In the clinical trial, we compared intraarterial (via a. vertebralis, n=6) versus intravenous administration of BMCs (n=14) in a group of subacute (10-33 days post-SCI, n=8) and chronic patients (2-18 months, n=12). For patient follow-up we used MEP, SEP, MRI, and the ASIA score. Our clinical study revealed that the implantation of BMCs into patients is safe, as there were no complications following cell administration. Partial improvement in the ASIA score and partial recovery of MEP or SEP have been observed in all subacute patients who received cells via a. vertebralis (n=4) and in one out of four subacute patients who received cells intravenously. Improvement was also found in one chronic patient who received cells via a. vertebralis. A much larger population of patients is needed before any conclusions can be drawn. The implantation of hydrogels into hemisected rat spinal cords showed that cellular ingrowth was most pronounced in copolymers of HEMA with a positive surface electric charge. Although most of the cells had the morphological properties of connective tissue elements, we found NF-160-positive axons invading all the implanted hydrogels from both the proximal and distal stumps. The biodegradable hydrogels degraded from the border that was in direct contact with the spinal cord tissue. They were resorbed by macrophages and replaced by newly formed tissue containing connective tissue elements, blood vessels, GFAP-positive astrocytic processes, and NF-160-positive neurofilaments. Additionally, we implanted hydrogels seeded with nanoparticle-labeled MSCs into hemisected rat spinal cords. Hydrogels seeded with MSCs were visible on MR images as hypointense areas, and subsequent Prussian blue histological staining confirmed positively stained cells within the hydrogels. 4. We conclude that treatment with different bone marrow cell populations had a positive effect on behavioral outcome and histopathological assessment after SCI in rats; this positive effect was most pronounced following MSC treatment. Our clinical study suggests a possible positive effect in patients with SCI. Bridging the lesion cavity can be an approach for further improving regeneration. Our preclinical studies showed that macroporous polymer hydrogels based on derivatives of HEMA or HPMA are suitable materials for bridging cavities after SCI; their chemical and physical properties can be modified to a specific use, and 3D implants seeded with different cell types may facilitate the ingrowth of axons.

• MeSH
• autologní transplantace MeSH
• buňky kostní dřeně fyziologie   MeSH
• hydrogely terapeutické užití   MeSH
• komprese míchy terapie   MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mezenchymální kmenové buňky fyziologie   MeSH
• monocyty transplantace   MeSH
• pohyb buněk MeSH
• polymery terapeutické užití   MeSH
• poranění míchy terapie   MeSH
• regenerace nervu MeSH
• transplantace kostní dřeně metody   MeSH
• transplantace mezenchymálních kmenových buněk metody   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• hydrogely MeSH
• polymery MeSH