Application potential of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSCs) based tissue-engineering for spinal cord defect repair in rat fetuses with spina bifida aperta

Abstract

Spina bifida aperta are complex congenital malformations resulting from failure of fusion in the spinal neural tube during embryogenesis. Despite surgical repair of the defect, most patients who survive with spina bifida aperta have a multiple system handicap due to neuron deficiency of the defective spinal cord. Tissue engineering has emerged as a novel treatment for replacement of lost tissue. This study evaluated the prenatal surgical approach of transplanting a chitosan–gelatin scaffold seeded with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in the healing the defective spinal cord of rat fetuses with retinoic acid induced spina bifida aperta. Scaffold characterisation revealed the porous structure, organic and amorphous content. This biomaterial promoted the adhesion, spreading and in vitro viability of the BMSCs. After transplantation of the scaffold combined with BMSCs, the defective region of spinal cord in rat fetuses with spina bifida aperta at E20 decreased obviously under stereomicroscopy, and the skin defect almost closed in many fetuses. The transplanted BMSCs in chitosan–gelatin scaffold survived, grew and expressed markers of neural stem cells and neurons in the defective spinal cord. In addition, the biomaterial presented high biocompatibility and slow biodegradation in vivo. In conclusion, prenatal transplantation of the scaffold combined with BMSCs could treat spinal cord defect in fetuses with spina bifida aperta by the regeneration of neurons and repairmen of defective region.

Smad7-overexpressing rat BMSCs inhibit the fibrosis of hepatic stellate cells by regulating the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway

“…BMSCs were first isolated by Friedenstein et al ( 14 ), and since then have been considered as the progenitor cells for the skeletal tissues. BMSCs are clonogenic, fibroblastic in shape, and are capable of differentiating into multiple lineages, such as osteoblasts, chondrocytes, adipocytes, and hematopoiesis-supportive stroma ( 15 ). Furthermore, BMSCs are able to migrate and attach to the damaged area, and help to repair the damaged organ ( 6 ).…”

Tissue engineering using 3D printed nano-bioactive glass loaded with NELL1 gene for repairing alveolar bone defects

“…Thus, BMSCs are ideal seed cells in bone tissue engineering, and are currently one of the most widely studied seed cells [ 23–26 ]. In addition, BMSCs have the ability to differentiate into three blastoderms, all of which exhibit the effects of healing bone defects via in vitro induction or direct implantation of the bone defect region [ 27–29 ]; however, if the local environment lacks bone growth factor, the osteogenic effect is not ideal [ 27 ]. Although, NELL1 and its role in bone tissue engineering remains poorly understood, osteogenic activity of NELL1 has been confirmed by animal experiments, and biomaterials containing NELL1 can promote rat cranial defect repair.…”

STAT3 Regulates the Pathogenesis and Bone Mesenchymal Stem Cells Transplantation of Spina Bifida Aperta Through Caspase-8

“…The defects occur in the transformation from neural groove closure to neural tube. Anencephalus takes place in the formation of neural groove non-closure, and the closed defect in the middle or end of neural groove lead to the spina bi da aperta or other malformations [22]. The reasons for neural tube defects are in different opinions, some think that the closure of neural tube stops in embryonic period, others claim that the excessive cerebrospinal uid makes ventricular pressure increase remarkably, leading to re-open of the closed neural tube [23].…”