Physical exercise and human adipose‐derived mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate motor disturbances in a male rat model of Parkinson's disease

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a disabling and highly costly neurodegenerative condition with worldwide prevalence. Despite advances in treatments that slow progression and minimize locomotor impairments, its clinical management is still a challenge. Previous preclinical studies, using mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation and isolated physical exercise (EX), reported beneficial results for treatment of PD. Therefore, this experimental randomized study aimed to elucidate the therapeutic potential of combined therapy using adipose-derived human MSCs (ADSCs) grafted into the striatum in conjunction with aerobic treadmill training, specifically in terms of locomotor performance in a unilateral PD rat model induced by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Forty-one male Wistar rats were categorized into five groups in accordance with the type of treatment to which they were subjected (Sham, 6-OHDA − injury, 6-OHDA + exercise, 6-OHDA + cells, and 6-OHDA + combined). Subsequently, dopaminergic depletion was assessed by the methylphenidate challenge and the specified therapeutic intervention was conducted in each group. The foot fault task was performed at the end of the experiment to serve as an assessment of motor skills. The results showed that despite disturbances in motor balance and coordination, locomotor dysfunction was ameliorated in all treatment categories in comparison to the injury group (sign test, p < 0.001, effect size: 0.71). The exercise alone and combined groups were the categories that exhibited the best recovery in terms of movement performance (p < 0.001). Overall, this study confirms that exercise is a powerful option to improve motor function and a promising adjuvant intervention for stem cell transplantation in the treatment of PD motor symptoms.

Mesenchymal Stem Cell Migration and Tissue Repair

“…In the past dozen years, a wealth of experimental evidence demonstrates the crucial repairing action of BMSCs in damaged tissue and disease. For example, it was found that the combination of MSC transplantation and physical exercise was more effective for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease in a rat model [94]. Our understanding of the key roles of BMSCs in tissue repair has largely increased.…”

Possible Neuroprotective Mechanisms of Physical Exercise in Neurodegeneration

“…At the cellular level, its pathology involves dopaminergic degeneration and accumulation of cytosolic protein α-synuclein, linked with impaired autophagy-lysosome pathway (ALP) clearance [ 29 ]. Considering its therapeutic aspect, many efforts have been made using different approaches, but even after many advances in its treatment that slow down its progression and minimize locomotor impairment, its clinical management is still a challenge [ 46 ]. Recent clinical finding data showed that only high-intensity tread mill exercise training could successfully improve motor symptoms in PD patients [ 47 ].…”

Empowerment of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a Yoga-Practicing Woman

“…With the goal of understanding if yoga potentiates the capabilities of MSCs, this study was designed to understand the effect of cryopreservation on yoga-primed MSCs in terms of their viability and immunomodulation functional capacity. Various form of exercises have been reported to influence the biological properties of MSCs in various model systems (12)(13)(14)(15), including their immunomodulation. Taken together, the results from our study provide a proof of concept indicating two significant findings which contribute to understanding the role of yoga in modulating properties of MSC.…”