NT-3-secreting human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cell transplantation for the treatment of acute spinal cord injury in rats

An animal model for clip spinal cord injury (SCI) was used to determine whether Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) genetically modified human umbilical mesenchymal stem cells (NT-3-HUMSCs) could promote the morphologic and functional recovery of injured spinal cords. Using the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan scores and a grid test, the rats in the HUMSC-treated and NT-3-HUMSCs groups had significantly improved locomotor functional recovery more than the control group. In comparison, the NT-3-HUMSCs group achieved better functional recovery than the HUMSCs group at the end of 12 weeks after SCI. The functional recovery was accompanied by increased intensity of 5-HT fibers, increased volume of spared myelination, and decreased area of the cystic cavity in the NT-3-HUMSCs group compared with the HUMSCs group. Moreover, transplanted NT-3-HUMSCs survived and produced larger amounts of NT-3 than the HUMSCs in the host spinal cord. These results show that NT-3 enhanced the therapeutic effects of HUMSCs after clip injury of the spinal cord.

Research highlights
► Genetic transfer of NT-3 enhanced the therapeutic effects of HUMSCs after compression injury of the spinal cord.
► Cell transplantation combining with gene transfer is a potential way to attack acute spinal cord injury.
► The neuroprotection effects of NT-3 could be the underlying mechanisms of the locomotor functional recovery in this study.