Donor-host interaction of engrafted neural stem progenitor cells in injured spinal cord

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25713053
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Orthopaedic surgery
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Okada Seiji 九州大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (30448435)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 脊髄損傷 / 神経幹細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The transplantation of neural stem/precursor cells (NSPCs) is a promising therapeutic strategy for spinal cord injury (SCI) , however, few studies have investigated NSPC transplantation for the severe injury nor chronic phase of SCI, and its therapeutic efficacy remains controversial. In this study, we demonstrated that the interactive synaptic reorganization between engrafted NSPCs and spared host neurons is crucial for functional recovery. In addition, even with the adequate capacity in generating neurons/oligodendrocytes and producing therapeutic molecules, engrafted NSPCs did not improve locomotor function, indicating that failure in chronic transplantation is not due to the lack of therapeutic activities of engrafted NSPCs but the refractory state of chronically injured spinal cords. Environmental modulation, rather modification of transplanting cells, will be significant for successful translation of stem cell-based therapies for SCI.

Free Research Field

整形外科