Preclinical and clinical studies with various stem cells, their secretomes, and extracellular vesicles (EVs) indicate their use as a promising strategy for the treatment of various diseases and tissue defects, including neurodegenerative diseases such as spinal cord injury (SCI) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Autologous and allogenic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are so far the best candidates for use in regenerative medicine. Here we review the effects of the implantation of MSCs (progenitors of mesodermal origin) in animal models of SCI and ALS and in clinical studies. MSCs possess multilineage differentiation potential and are easily expandable in vitro. These cells, obtained from bone marrow (BM), adipose tissue, Wharton jelly, or even other tissues, have immunomodulatory and paracrine potential, releasing a number of cytokines and factors which inhibit the proliferation of T cells, B cells, and natural killer cells and modify dendritic cell activity. They are hypoimmunogenic, migrate toward lesion sites, induce better regeneration, preserve perineuronal nets, and stimulate neural plasticity. There is a wide use of MSC systemic application or MSCs seeded on scaffolds and tissue bridges made from various synthetic and natural biomaterials, including human decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) or nanofibers. The positive effects of MSC implantation have been recorded in animals with SCI lesions and ALS. Moreover, promising effects of autologous as well as allogenic MSCs for the treatment of SCI and ALS were demonstrated in recent clinical studies.

• Klíčová slova
• amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, biomaterials, cell therapy, conditioned medium, exosomes, mesenchymal stem cells, neurodegenerative diseases, spinal cord injury,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious trauma, which often results in a permanent loss of motor and sensory functions, pain and spasticity. Despite extensive research, there is currently no available therapy that would restore the lost functions after SCI in human patients. Advanced treatments use regenerative medicine or its combination with various interdisciplinary approaches such as tissue engineering or biophysical methods. This review summarizes and critically discusses the research from specific interdisciplinary fields in SCI treatment such as the development of biomaterials as scaffolds for tissue repair, and using a magnetic field for targeted cell delivery. We compare the treatment effects of synthetic non-degradable methacrylate-based hydrogels and biodegradable biological scaffolds based on extracellular matrix. The systems using magnetic fields for magnetically guided delivery of stem cells loaded with magnetic nanoparticles into the lesion site are then suggested and discussed.

• Klíčová slova
• Biomaterials, Cell delivery, Hydrogel, Magnetic field, Spinal cord injury,
• MeSH
• biokompatibilní materiály farmakologie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• hydrogely terapeutické užití   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• magnetoterapie metody   trendy   MeSH
• poranění míchy patofyziologie   terapie   MeSH
• regenerace nervu účinky léků   fyziologie   MeSH
• transplantace kmenových buněk metody   trendy   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• biokompatibilní materiály MeSH
• hydrogely MeSH

Spinal cord injury (SCI), is a devastating condition leading to the loss of locomotor and sensory function below the injured segment. Despite some progress in acute SCI treatment using stem cells and biomaterials, chronic SCI remains to be addressed. We have assessed the use of laminin-coated hydrogel with dual porosity, seeded with induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitors (iPSC-NPs), in a rat model of chronic SCI. iPSC-NPs cultured for 3 weeks in hydrogel in vitro were positive for nestin, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2). These cell-polymer constructs were implanted into a balloon compression lesion, 5 weeks after lesion induction. Animals were behaviorally tested, and spinal cord tissue was immunohistochemically analyzed 28 weeks after SCI. The implanted iPSC-NPs survived in the scaffold for the entire experimental period. Host axons, astrocytes and blood vessels grew into the implant and an increased sprouting of host TH+ fibers was observed in the lesion vicinity. The implantation of iPSC-NP-LHM cell-polymer construct into the chronic SCI led to the integration of material into the injured spinal cord, reduced cavitation and supported the iPSC-NPs survival, but did not result in a statistically significant improvement of locomotor recovery.

• Klíčová slova
• Chronic spinal cord injury, HEMA hydrogel, human induced pluripotent stem cells, laminin, neural progenitors, surface charge,
• MeSH
• buněčná diferenciace MeSH
• chronická nemoc MeSH
• hydrogely MeSH
• indukované pluripotentní kmenové buňky metabolismus   MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• nervové kmenové buňky transplantace   MeSH
• poranění míchy terapie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• hydrogely MeSH

Methacrylate hydrogels have been extensively used as bridging scaffolds in experimental spinal cord injury (SCI) research. As synthetic materials, they can be modified, which leads to improved bridging of the lesion. Fibronectin, a glycoprotein of the extracellular matrix produced by reactive astrocytes after SCI, is known to promote cell adhesion. We implanted 3 methacrylate hydrogels: a scaffold based on hydroxypropylmethacrylamid (HPMA), 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) and a HEMA hydrogel with an attached fibronectin (HEMA-Fn) in an experimental model of acute SCI in rats. The animals underwent functional evaluation once a week and the spinal cords were histologically assessed 3 months after hydrogel implantation. We found that both the HPMA and the HEMA-Fn hydrogel scaffolds lead to partial sensory improvement compared to control animals and animals treated with plain HEMA scaffold. The HPMA scaffold showed an increased connective tissue infiltration compared to plain HEMA hydrogels. There was a tendency towards connective tissue infiltration and higher blood vessel ingrowth in the HEMA-Fn scaffold. HPMA hydrogels showed a significantly increased axonal ingrowth compared to HEMA-Fn and plain HEMA; while there were some neurofilaments in the peripheral as well as the central region of the HEMA-Fn scaffold, no neurofilaments were found in plain HEMA hydrogels. In conclusion, HPMA hydrogel as well as the HEMA-Fn scaffold showed better bridging qualities compared to the plain HEMA hydrogel, which resulted in very limited partial sensory improvement.

• Klíčová slova
• connective tissue, hydrogel, locomotor test, neurofilaments, plantar test, spinal cord injury,
• MeSH
• axony fyziologie   MeSH
• biokompatibilní materiály MeSH
• biologické markery MeSH
• exprese genu MeSH
• extracelulární matrix metabolismus   MeSH
• fyziologická neovaskularizace MeSH
• hematoencefalická bariéra metabolismus   MeSH
• hojení ran MeSH
• hydrogely * MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• methakryláty * chemie   MeSH
• modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
• pojivová tkáň MeSH
• poranění míchy etiologie   metabolismus   patologie   terapie   MeSH
• regenerace nervu * MeSH
• tkáňové podpůrné struktury MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• biokompatibilní materiály MeSH
• biologické markery MeSH
• hydrogely * MeSH
• methakryláty * MeSH

While many types of biomaterials have been evaluated in experimental spinal cord injury (SCI) research, little is known about the time-related dynamics of the tissue infiltration of these scaffolds. We analyzed the ingrowth of connective tissue, axons and blood vessels inside the superporous poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) hydrogel with oriented pores. The hydrogels, either plain or seeded with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), were implanted in spinal cord transection at the level of Th8. The animals were sacrificed at days 2, 7, 14, 28, 49 and 6 months after SCI and histologically evaluated. We found that within the first week, the hydrogels were already infiltrated with connective tissue and blood vessels, which remained stable for the next 6 weeks. Axons slowly and gradually infiltrated the hydrogel within the first month, after which the numbers became stable. Six months after SCI we observed rare axons crossing the hydrogel bridge and infiltrating the caudal stump. There was no difference in the tissue infiltration between the plain hydrogels and those seeded with MSCs. We conclude that while connective tissue and blood vessels quickly infiltrate the scaffold within the first week, axons show a rather gradual infiltration over the first month, and this is not facilitated by the presence of MSCs inside the hydrogel pores. Further research which is focused on the permissive micro-environment of the hydrogel scaffold is needed, to promote continuous and long-lasting tissue regeneration across the spinal cord lesion.

• MeSH
• axony patologie   MeSH
• biokompatibilní materiály chemie   MeSH
• časové faktory MeSH
• fyziologická neovaskularizace MeSH
• hydrogely MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• oligopeptidy chemie   MeSH
• polyhydroxyethylmethakrylát chemie   MeSH
• poranění míchy patologie   patofyziologie   terapie   MeSH
• poréznost MeSH
• potkani Wistar MeSH
• regenerace míchy fyziologie   MeSH
• testování materiálů MeSH
• tkáňové podpůrné struktury chemie   MeSH
• transplantace mezenchymálních kmenových buněk * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• hodnotící studie MeSH
• Názvy látek
• biokompatibilní materiály MeSH
• hydrogely MeSH
• oligopeptidy MeSH
• polyhydroxyethylmethakrylát MeSH
• seryl-isoleucyl-lysyl-valyl-alanyl-valinamide MeSH Prohlížeč

Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) improves functional recovery in experimental models of spinal cord injury (SCI); however, the mechanisms underlying this effect are not completely understood. We investigated the effect of intrathecal implantation of human MSC on functional recovery, astrogliosis and levels of inflammatory cytokines in rats using balloon-induced spinal cord compression lesions. Transplanted cells did not survive at the lesion site of the spinal cord; however, functional recovery was enhanced in the MSC-treated group as was confirmed by the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) and the flat beam test. Morphometric analysis showed a significantly higher amount of remaining white matter in the cranial part of the lesioned spinal cords. Immunohistochemical analysis of the lesions indicated the rearrangement of the glial scar in MSC-treated animals. Real-time PCR analysis revealed an increased expression of Irf5, Mrc1, Fgf2, Gap43 and Gfap. Transplantation of MSCs into a lesioned spinal cord reduced TNFα, IL-4, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6 and IL-12 and increased the levels of MIP-1α and RANTES when compared to saline-treated controls. Intrathecal implantation of MSCs reduces the inflammatory reaction and apoptosis, improves functional recovery and modulates glial scar formation after SCI, regardless of cell survival. Therefore, repeated applications may prolong the beneficial effects induced by MSC application.

• MeSH
• chemokin CCL5 genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• fibroblastový růstový faktor 2 genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• gliový fibrilární kyselý protein genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• interferonové regulační faktory genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• interleukiny genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lokomoce MeSH
• mezenchymální kmenové buňky metabolismus   MeSH
• poranění míchy metabolismus   terapie   MeSH
• potkani Wistar MeSH
• protein GAP-43 genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• receptory imunologické genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• TNF-alfa genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• transplantace mezenchymálních kmenových buněk * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• chemokin CCL5 MeSH
• fibroblastový růstový faktor 2 MeSH
• gliový fibrilární kyselý protein MeSH
• interferonové regulační faktory MeSH
• interleukiny MeSH
• protein GAP-43 MeSH
• receptory imunologické MeSH
• TNF-alfa MeSH

BACKGROUND: A number of cardiovascular, neurological, musculoskeletal and other diseases have a limited capacity for repair and only a modest progress has been made in treatment of brain diseases. The discovery of stem cells has opened new possibilities for the treatment of these maladies, and cell therapy now stands at the cutting-edge of modern regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Experimental data and the first clinical trials employing stem cells have shown their broad therapeutic potential and have brought hope to patients suffering from devastating pathologies of different organs and systems. AIMS: Here, we briefly review the main achievements and trends in cell-based therapy, with an emphasis on the main types of stem cells: embryonic, mesenchymal stromal and induced pluripotent cells. DISCUSSION: Many questions regarding the application of stem cells remain unanswered, particularly tumorigenicity, immune rejection and danger of gene manipulation. Currently, only MSC seems to be safe and might be considered to be a leading candidate for human application to treat pathologies that affect the cardiovascular, neurological and musculoskeletal systems.

• Klíčová slova
• Clinical Trials, Embryonic Stem Cells, Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, Mesenchymal Stromal Cells, PACS: 87.19.L-; 87.19.LW, Stem Cells,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs) are an alternative source of stem cells for cell-based therapies of neurological disorders such as spinal cord injury (SCI). In the present study, we predifferentiated ASCs (pASCs) and compared their behavior with naïve ASCs in vitro and after transplantation into rats with a balloon-induced compression lesion. ASCs were predifferentiated into spheres before transplantation, then pASCs or ASCs were injected intraspinally 1 week after SCI. The cells' fate and the rats' functional outcome were assessed using behavioral, histological, and electrophysiological methods. Immunohistological analysis of pASCs in vitro revealed the expression of NCAM, NG2, S100, and p75. Quantitative RT-PCR at different intervals after neural induction showed the up-regulated expression of the glial markers NG2 and p75 and the neural precursor markers NCAM and Nestin. Patch clamp analysis of pASCs revealed three different types of membrane currents; however, none were fast activating Na(+) currents indicating a mature neuronal phenotype. Significant improvement in both the pASC and ASC transplanted groups was observed in the BBB motor test. In vivo, pASCs survived better than ASCs did and interacted closely with the host tissue, wrapping host axons and oligodendrocytes. Some transplanted cells were NG2- or CD31-positive, but no neuronal markers were detected. The predifferentiation of ASCs plays a beneficial role in SCI repair by promoting the protection of denuded axons; however, functional improvements were comparable in both the groups, indicating that repair was induced mainly through paracrine mechanisms.

• MeSH
• buněčná diferenciace fyziologie   MeSH
• buňky stromatu transplantace   MeSH
• chování zvířat fyziologie   MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• kultivované buňky MeSH
• metoda terčíkového zámku MeSH
• multipotentní kmenové buňky cytologie   fyziologie   MeSH
• pohybová aktivita fyziologie   MeSH
• poranění míchy patologie   chirurgie   MeSH
• potkani Sprague-Dawley MeSH
• potkani transgenní MeSH
• potkani Wistar MeSH
• transplantace kmenových buněk metody   MeSH
• tuková tkáň cytologie   fyziologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH