The Use of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Experimental and Clinical Therapy of Spinal Cord Injury

Czech version

Authors: A. Hejčl ^1,2; P. Jendelová ^2,3; M. Sameš ¹; E. Syková ^2,3
Authors‘ workplace: Neurochirurgická klinika UJEP a Krajská zdravotní a. s., Masarykova nemocnice v Ústí nad Labem, o. z. ¹; Ústav experimentální medicíny AV ČR, v. v. i., Praha ²; Ústav neurověd, 2. LF UK v Praze ³
Published in: Cesk Slov Neurol N 2014; 77/110(5): 560-567
Category: Review Article

Podpořeno Grantovou agenturou České republiky 13- 00939S, 14- 14961S, grantem Lidské zdroje pro neurovědní výzkum v Královéhradeckém a Ústeckém kraji CZ.1.07/ 2.3.00/ 20.0274 a dále finančně podpořeno projektem LO1309 MŠMT ČR v rámci programu NPU I.

Overview

The use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) represents an experimental therapeutic modality in the treatment of spinal cord injury. MSC can be harvested from the bone marrow, fat tissue and other peripheral tissues from adult individuals. Compared to other types of stem cells, MSC are easy to access and expand and they can be used in autologous settings. Over the last 15 years, MSC have been widely studied in experimental spinal cord injury, especially in rodents, with promising results. MSC support remyelination of demyelinated axons, axonal sprouting, angiogenesis, have immunosuppressive effect and secrete neurotrophic factors that may led to functional improvement. These promising results led to launching of clinical studies in patients with spinal cord injury. Phase I/II clinical studies showed that the use of MSC represent a safe method. However, functional effect needs to be proved in further clinical studies. Data suggest that MSC will need to be combined with other methods, such as lesion bridging, scar tissue breakdown and blocking of inhibitory molecules. This paper provides an overview of the use of MSC in experimental and clinical SCI.

Key words:
spinal cord injury – mesenchymal stem cells – stem cell therapy – clinical studies

The authors declare they have no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study.

The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE “uniform requirements” for biomedical papers.

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