Effect of Erythropoietin-Transduced M SCs in Animal Model of Ischemic Stroke

Abstract

Background & Objectives: This study was undertaken to evaluate whether bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells transduced with erythropoietin (EPO), known to have neuroprotective effects, could improve neurobehavioral deficits caused by ischemic stroke

Method: One hundred twenty ischemic stroke model rats were divided into four groups according to the injection protocol. Neurobehavioral functions were assessed in 20 rats from each group for 43 days. To investigate mechanisms of rhEPO effects, the 20 rats and additional 10 rats from each group were sacrificed at 43 days and 22 h, respectively, after the initial injection.

Results: When compared with the S group, injected with only saline, neurobehavioral functions were significantly improved in the M-E (injected with EPOtransduced MSCs), M (injected with MSCs), and E (injected with EPO) groups, in the order. The beneficial effects by EPO-transduced MSCs were associated with the increase in survival signals and endogenous neural stem cells and the decrease in infarct volume and death signals

Conclusion: These findings suggest that EPO-transduced MSCs have excellent neuroprotective effects in ischemic stroke and these cells can significantly improve neurobehavioral deficits in ischemic stroke.