Pediatrics & Neonatology
Volume 49, Issue 3 , Pages 77-83, June 2008

Infusion of Human Umbilical Cord Blood Cells Ameliorates Hind Limb Dysfunction in Experimental Spinal Cord Injury through Anti-inflammatory, Vasculogenic and Neurotrophic Mechanisms

  • Chun-Ta Chen

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics and Stem Cell Lab, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Ning-Hui Foo

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics and Stem Cell Lab, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Won-Shiung Liu

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics and Stem Cell Lab, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Sheng-Hsien Chen

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medical Research, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chi Mei Medical Center, 901 Chung Hwa Road, Yung Kung City, Tainan, Taiwan

Received 29 February 2008; received in revised form 7 April 2008; accepted 25 June 2008.

Article Outline

Background

Human umbilical cord blood cells (HUCBCs) were used to investigate the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of cord blood cells in spinal cord injury (SCI).

Methods

Rats were divided into three groups: (1) sham operation (laminectomy only); (2) laminectomy + SCI + human adult peripheral blood mononucleocytes (PBMCs) (5 × 106/0.3 mL); and (3) laminectomy + SCI + HUCBCs (5 × 106/0.3 mL). SCI was induced by compressing the spinal cord for 1 minute with an aneurysm clip calibrated to 55 g closing pressure. HUCBCs were infused immediately after SCI via the tail vein. Behavioral function tests measuring the maximal angle at which an animal could hold onto the inclined plane were conducted on days 1, 4 and 7 after SCI. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-10, were assayed. Further more, to determine if glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) could be detected in the spinal cord injured area after systemic HUCBC infusion, analysis of these two molecules was conducted by immunofluorescence.

Results

Systemic HUCBC infusion significantly attenuated SCI-induced hind limb dysfunction. The serum IL-10 levels were increased, but TNF-α levels were decreased after HUCBC infusion. Both VEGF and GDNF could be detected in the injured spinal cord after transplantation of HUCBC, but not PBMC, cells.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate that HUCBC therapy may be beneficial for the recovery of SCI-induced hind limb dysfunction by increasing serum levels of IL-10, VEGF and GDNF in SCI rats.

Key Words:  glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor , human umbilical cord blood cells , interleukin-10 , spinal cord injury , vascular endothelial growth factor

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PII: S1875-9572(08)60017-0

doi:10.1016/S1875-9572(08)60017-0

Pediatrics & Neonatology
Volume 49, Issue 3 , Pages 77-83, June 2008

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