Co-transplantation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and nanospheres containing FGF-2 improve cell survival and neurological function in the injured rat spinal cord

Dong Ah Shin, William A. Pennant, Do Heum Yoon, Yoon Ha, Keung Nyun Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating and irreversible event, and much research using fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) has been performed to test its capacity to blunt the effects of SCI as well as to provide an environment conducive for SCI repair. Methods: We tested how the in vitro release of FGF-2 from heparin-conjugated poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA)-conjugated nanospheres (HCPNs) affected the growth of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs), as well as the effects of their co-transplantation in an animal model of SCI. Results: Our results showed that sustained, long-term release of FGF-2 from HCPNs significantly increased hBMSCs proliferation in vitro, and that their co-transplantation following rat SCI lead to increased functional improvement, a greater amount of hBMSCs surviving transplantation, and a greater density of neurofilament-positive cells in the injury epicenter. Conclusion: These results suggest a proliferative, protective, and neural inductive potential of FGF-2 for transplanted hBMSCs, as well as a possible role for sustained FGF-2 delivery along with hBMSCs transplantation in the injured spinal cord. Future studies will be required to ascertain the safety FGF-2-containing HCPNs before clinical application.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)297-303
Number of pages7
JournalActa Neurochirurgica
Volume156
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014 Feb

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Surgery
  • Clinical Neurology

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