Journal of neurotrauma
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Journal of neurotrauma · Nov 2017
Effects of multiple-injection of bone marrow mononuclear cells on spinal cord injury of rats.
The effects of multiple injection of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMNCs) on spinal cord injury (SCI) were compared with those of single injection in rats. BMNCs separated by density-gradient centrifugation from a bone marrow perfusate were injected three times (once weekly) through the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) via the fourth ventricle, and the locomotor improvement and tissue recovery, including axonal regeneration, were compared with those of single injection. While the single-injection group showed a steep elevation of the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) score 1 week after transplantation, the multiple-injection group maintained a similar steep elevation for 2 weeks after transplantation, and the BBB scores of the multiple-injection group remained thereafter at a level approximately 2-3 points higher than those of the single-injection group until the end of the experiment. ⋯ There were, however, no significant differences in the density of regenerating axons or volumes of cavities between the single- and multiple-injection groups. These results showed that although tissue recoveries were similar between single and multiple injection, the multiple injection of BMNCs was more beneficial for locomotor improvement than single injection for the treatment of SCI. Considering the technically simple and low-cost procedures for the preparation and injection of BMNCs, multiple injection of BMNCs by lumbar puncture has an advantage over single injection on clinical application.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Nov 2017
Fumaric Acid Esters Attenuate Secondary Degeneration Following Spinal Cord Injury.
Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes permanent changes in motor, sensory, and autonomic functions. Unfortunately, there are no stable cures and current treatments include surgical decompression, methylprednisolone, and hemodynamic control that lead to modest function recovery. Fumaric acid esters (FAEs) were firstly used in the management of an immunological skin disorder, such as psoriasis. ⋯ FAEs significantly reduced the severity of inflammation by a modulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and apoptosis factors, and increased neutrophic factors such as anti-brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), anti-glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and neurotrophin-3 (NT3). Our results showed important protective effects of DMF in an animal model of SCI, considerably improving recovery of motor function, possibly by reducing the secondary inflammation and tissue injury that characterize this model. DMF may constitute a promising target for future SCI therapies.