Mesenchymal stem cells induced to secrete neurotrophic factors attenuate quinolinic acid toxicity: A potential therapy for Huntington's disease

► NTF+ cell transplantation attenuates the neurotoxicity induced by QA injection. ► HD-derived MSCs possess normal mesenchymal capacity and can be induced to differentiate into NTF+ cells. ► HD-derived NTF+ cells alleviate neural symptoms associated with QA-induced striatal lesions. ► MRI demonstrates in vivo the efficacy of NTF+ cells as treatment for QA toxicity.