Co-transplantation of MRF-overexpressing oligodendrocyte precursor cells and Schwann cells promotes recovery in rat after spinal cord injury

Oligodendrocyte (OL) replacement is a promising treatment strategy for spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the poor survival of transplanted OLs or their precursors and inhibition of axonal regeneration are two major challenges with this approach. Our previous study showed that Schwann cells (SCs) promoted survival, proliferation, and migration of transplanted OL progenitor cells (OPCs) and neurological recovery. Remyelination is an important basis for functional recovery following spinal cord injury. It has been reported that myelin gene regulatory factor (MRF), a transcriptional regulator which specifically is expressed in postmitotic OLs within the CNS, is essential for OL maturation and CNS myelination. In the present study, we investigated whether co-transplantation of MRF-overexpressing OPCs (MRF-OPCs) and SCs could improve functional recovery in a rat model of contusional SCI. MRF overexpression had no effect on OPC survival or migration, but stimulated the differentiation of OPCs both in vitro and in vivo. Co-transplantation of MRF-OPCs and SCs increased myelination and tissue repair after SCI, leading to the recovery of neurological function. These results indicate that co-transplantation of MRF-OPCs and SCs may be an effective treatment strategy for SCI.