The cost of publication in Journal of Biomedical Science is borne by the National Science Council, Taiwan.
Research
Mesenchymal stem cell transplantation ameliorates motor function deterioration of spinocerebellar ataxia by rescuing cerebellar Purkinje cells
1 Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
2 Department of Radiation Oncology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Taipei Branch, New Taipei City, Taiwan
3 School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
4 Stem Cell Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
5 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, National Yang-Ming University Hospital, Yi-Lan, Taiwan
6 Department of Neurology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
7 Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
8 Center for Stem Cell Research, Taipei Medical University-Wan Fang Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
9 Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
10 Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Medical University-Wan Fang Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
11 Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Journal of Biomedical Science 2011, 18:54 doi:10.1186/1423-0127-18-54
Published: 8 August 2011Abstract
Background
Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) refers to a disease entity in which polyglutamine aggregates are over-produced in Purkinje cells (PCs) of the cerebellum as well as other neurons in the central nervous system, and the formation of intracellular polyglutamine aggregates result in the loss of neurons as well as deterioration of motor functions. So far there is no effective neuroprotective treatment for this debilitating disease although numerous efforts have been made. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess multi-lineage differentiation potentials as well as immuno-modulatory properties, and are theoretically good candidates for SCA treatment. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether transplantation of human MSCs (hMSCs) can rescue cerebellar PCs and ameliorate motor function deterioration in SCA in a pre-clinical animal model.
Method
Transgenic mice bearing poly-glutamine mutation in ataxin-2 gene (C57BL/6J SCA2 transgenic mice) were serially transplanted with hMSCs intravenously or intracranially before and after the onset of motor function loss. Motor function of mice was evaluated by an accelerating protocol of rotarod test every 8 weeks. Immunohistochemical stain of whole brain sections was adopted to demonstrate the neuroprotective effect of hMSC transplantation on cerebellar PCs and engraftment of hMSCs into mice brain.
Results
Intravenous transplantation of hMSCs effectively improved rotarod performance of SCA2 transgenic mice and delayed the onset of motor function deterioration; while intracranial transplantation failed to achieve such neuroprotective effect. Immunohistochemistry revealed that intravenous transplantation was more effective in the preservation of the survival of cerebellar PCs and engraftment of hMSCs than intracranial injection, which was compatible to rotarod performance of transplanted mice.
Conclusion
Intravenous transplantation of hMSCs can indeed delay the onset as well as improve the motor function of SCA2 transgenic mice. The results of this preclinical study strongly support further exploration of the feasibility to transplant hMSCs for SCA patients.
