Amelioration of Ischemic Brain Injury in Rats with Human Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells: Mechanisms of Action

Laura L. Hocum Stone; Feng Xiao; Jessica Rotschafer; Zhenhong Nan; Mario Juliano; Cyndy D. Sanberg; Paul R. Sanberg; Nicole Kuzmin-Nichols; Andrew Grande; Maxim C-J Cheeran; Walter C. Low Ph.D.

doi:10.3727/096368916X691277

Cell Transplantation (Aug 2016)

Amelioration of Ischemic Brain Injury in Rats with Human Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells: Mechanisms of Action

Laura L. Hocum Stone,
Feng Xiao,
Jessica Rotschafer,
Zhenhong Nan,
Mario Juliano,
Cyndy D. Sanberg,
Paul R. Sanberg,
Nicole Kuzmin-Nichols,
Andrew Grande,
Maxim C-J Cheeran,
Walter C. Low Ph.D.

Affiliations

Laura L. Hocum Stone: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Feng Xiao: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Jessica Rotschafer: Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Zhenhong Nan: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Mario Juliano: Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Cyndy D. Sanberg: Saneron CCEL Therapeutics Inc., Tampa, FL, USA
Paul R. Sanberg: Center for Aging and Brain Repair, Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
Nicole Kuzmin-Nichols: Saneron CCEL Therapeutics Inc., Tampa, FL, USA
Andrew Grande: Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Maxim C-J Cheeran: Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Walter C. Low Ph.D.: Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3727/096368916X691277
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 25

Abstract

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Despite the high prevalence and devastating outcome, there remain a few options for treatment of ischemic stroke. Currently available treatments are limited by a short time window for treatment and marginal efficacy when used. We have tested a human umbilical cord blood-derived stem cell line that has been shown to result in a significant reduction in stroke infarct volume as well as improved functional recovery following stroke in the rat. In the present study we address the mechanism of action and compared the therapeutic efficacy of high- versus low-passage nonhematopoietic umbilical cord blood stem cells (nh-UCBSCs). Using the middle cerebral arterial occlusion (MCAo) model of stroke in Sprague–Dawley rats, we administered nh-UCBSC by intravenous (IV) injection 2 days following stroke induction. These human cells were injected into rats without any immune suppression, and no adverse reactions were detected. Both behavioral and histological analyses have shown that the administration of these cells reduces the infarct volume by 50% as well as improves the functional outcome of these rats following stroke for both high- and low-passaged nh-UCBSCs. Flow cytometry analysis of immune cells present in the brains of normal rats, rats with ischemic brain injury, and ischemic animals with nh-UCBSC treatment confirmed infiltration of macrophages and T cells consequent to ischemia and reduction to normal levels with nh-UCBSC treatment. Flow cytometry also revealed a restoration of normal levels of microglia in the brain following treatment. These data suggest that nh-UCBSCs may act by inhibiting immune cell migration into the brain from the periphery and possibly by inhibition of immune cell activation within the brain. nh-UCBSCs exhibit great potential for treatment of stroke, including the fact that they are associated with an increased therapeutic time window, no known ill-effects, and that they can be expanded to high numbers for, and stored for, treatment.

Published in Cell Transplantation

ISSN: 0963-6897 (Print); 1555-3892 (Online)
Publisher: SAGE Publishing
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine
Website: http://journals.sagepub.com/home/cll

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