Research on the effect and mechanism of the CXCR-4-overexpressing BMSCs combined with SDF-1α for the cure of acute SCI in rats

B.-W. Sun, H.-M. Shen, B.-C. Liu, H.-L. Fang

Department of Orthopaedics, The Second People’s Hospital of Jining, Jining, China. abcdwww001@163.com

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• Pharmacology

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect and mechanism of bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) modified with CXCR-4 gene combined with stromal derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) in the treatment of acute spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: CXCR-4 gene was transfected by a virus. Spinal cord injury rats were randomly divided into four groups: control group, SDF-1α group, CXCR-4/BMSC group and combined group. The motor function was evaluated with Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) score and the RNA expression of CXCR-4 were measured by PCR. Apoptosis of spinal cord was measured by TUNEL kit (Hu Bei, China). The protein level of Bcl-2 and Bax were measured by Western-blot. The BBB scores, mRNA CXCR-4 expression, and apoptosis rate were compared between four groups at 1d, 3d, 7d, 14d, 21d after the operation.

RESULTS: The exercise ability in combined group restored in early and late periods of SCI. The apoptosis rates in the combined group are less than other three groups; the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Bcl-2 in combined group is higher than the other 3 groups and Bax is less than the other 3 groups, the difference is statistically significant (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The neurological function of rats with a spinal cord can be improved by BMSCs modified with CXCR-4 combined with SDF-1α. The main mechanism may improve the expression of SDF-1α and decrease the apoptosis of the spinal cord.

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