Stem Cells from Human Exfoliated Deciduous Teeth Modulate Early Astrocyte Response after Spinal Cord Contusion

Abstract

The transplantation of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) has been studied as a possible treatment strategy for spinal cord injuries (SCIs) due to its potential for promoting tissue protection and functional recovery. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of the early transplantation of SHED on glial scar formation and astrocytic reaction after an experimental model of SCI. Wistar rats were spinalized using the NYU Impactor. Animals were randomly distributed into three groups: control (naive) (animal with no manipulation); SCI (receiving laminectomy followed by SCI and treated with vehicle), and SHED (SCI rat treated with intraspinal SHED transplantation, 1 h after SCI). In vitro investigation demonstrated that SHED were able to express mesenchymal stem cells, vimentin and S100B markers, related with neural progenitor and glial cells, respectively. The acute SHED transplantation promoted functional recovery, measured as from the first week after spinal cord contusion by Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan scale. Twenty-four and 48 h after lesion, flow cytometry revealed a spinal cord vimentin cells increment in the SHED group. The increase of vimentin cells was confirmed by immunofluorescence. Moreover, the bioavailability of astrocytic proteins such as S100B and Kir4.1 shown to be increased in the spinal cord of SHED group, whereas there was a glial scar reduction, as indicated by ELISA and Western blot techniques. The presented results support that SHED act as a neuroprotector agent after transplantation, probably through paracrine signaling to reduce glial scar formation, inducing tissue plasticity and functional recovery.

Transplantation of Stem Cells from Human Exfoliated Deciduous Teeth Decreases Cognitive Impairment from Chronic Cerebral Ischemia by Reducing Neuronal Apoptosis in Rats

“…The long-term cerebral blood perfusion insufficiency in CCI rats results in a lack of oxygen and glucose and inflammatory response in the brain, causing cell apoptosis of neurons [29,30]. In previous researches, it was found that SHED transplantation regulated the balance between the proapoptotic factor tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and the antiapoptotic factor Bcl-xl, reduced early neuronal apoptosis, and caused a recovery of spontaneous motor function as early as 1 week after spinal cord injuries in rats [31,32]. Another report showed that SHED transplantation reduced neuronal apoptosis, inhibited the expression of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and interleukin-(IL-) 1β, increased the expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10, and improved the survival of perinatal hypoxia-ischemia mice [33].…”

Local Delivery of Taxol From FGL-Functionalized Self-Assembling Peptide Nanofiber Scaffold Promotes Recovery After Spinal Cord Injury

“…In this experiment, the thoracic SCI model was established as previously reported (Nicola et al, 2019). Briefly, 30 adult female SD rats weighing 200-220 g were obtained from the Animal Center of Tong Ji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology.…”

Therapeutic applications of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth: a review

“…The effects of SHED transplantation on glial scar formation and astrocytic reaction after SCI were studied by Nicola et al 23 The results of the study suggested that SHED acts as a neuroprotector agent. They function mainly through paracrine signalling to reduce glial scar formation, induce tissue plasticity, and causes functional recovery.…”