Study of co-transplantation of SPIO labeled bone marrow stromal stem cells and Schwann cells for treating traumatic brain injury in rats and in vivo tracing of magnetically labeled cells by MRI

H.-S. Xu, C. Ma, L. Cao, J.-J. Wang, X.-X. Fan

Department of Neurosurgery, Central Hospital of Xuzhou, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China. xhs51@126.com

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• Neurosurgery

AIM: The aims of this study are to investigate the effects of co-transplantation Bone Marrow Stromal Stem Cells (BMSCs) and Schwann Cells (SCs) in treating rat traumatic brain injury (TBI), the migration of BMSCs in the brain, and whether co-transplantation treatment is superior to single transplantation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) labeled BMSCs and SCs were transplanted and co-transplanted into the rats with TBI. The neurological functions of the rats were evaluated by the NSS (Neurological Severity Score) at day 3, 7, 14, and 30. Moreover, 7.0T MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan was conducted in order to observe the migration of the labeled BMSCs.

RESULTS: MRI scan showed that when SPIO labeled BMSCs were injected into the brain, T2WI (weighted image) showed low signals and these low signals migrated toward the lesion. The speed of migration was faster in the co-transplantation group than in the single transplantation group. NSS results showed that the prognosis was better in the co-transplantation group than in the single transplantation group at day 14 after injection.

CONCLUSIONS: The co-transplantation of BMSCs and SCs showed faster cell migration and better prognosis in rat TBI.

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