Objective To observe the effects of the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on the expression of neurotrophic factor protein gene in the retinal detachment (RD) rabbits. Methods 60 healthy rabbits were randomly divided into control group (group A), retinal detachment with PBS group (group B), retinal detachment with BMSCs group (group C), 20 rabbits in each group. RD model were established for rabbits in group B and C. 10 μl PBS was injected into the subretinal space of rabbits in group B, while 10 μl CM-Dil labeled BMSC PBS was injected into subretinal space of rabbits in group C. The rabbits in the group A received no treatment. At 1, 2 and 4 weeks after modeling, the mRNA expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) were measured by real-time quantitative PCR. Results At 1, 2 and 4 weeks after modeling, the mRNA expression of bFGF, BDNF, CNTF on retinal tissue were increased significantly in group C as compared with group A and B (P < 0.01). At 1 week after modeling, the mRNA expression of bFGF and CNTF on retinal tissue were increased significantly in group B as compared with group A, the mRNA expression of BDNF on retinal tissue in group B was similar with group C. At 2 and 4 weeks after modeling, the mRNA expression of bFGF, BDNF, CNTF were decreased in group B as compared with group A. Conclusion Subretinal transplantation of BMSC can increase the mRNA expression of bFGF, BDNF and CNTF on retinal tissue in RD rabbits.
Objective To assess systematically the safety and ef fects of stem cell transplantation in stroke patients.Methods CENTRAL (April 2007), MEDLINE (1966 to April 2007), EMBASE (1980 to April 2007), and other databases were searched for RCT of the use of stem cell transplantation for patients with stroke. We critically appraised the quality of included studies according to Juny 2001. We assessed the effects of stem cell therapy on mortal ity, functional outcomes, cognitive functions, image changes, quality of life, and adverse effects by doing meta-analysis with The Cochrane Collaboration’ s Review Manager. Dichotomous outcomes were reported as relative risk and continuous outcome measures as weighted mean differences, with 95% confidence intervals.Results Three RCTs and one historical controlled trial were included involving a total of 69 participants. Only one trial reported the effect on mortality, but because of the small number of death it was not possible to detect any significant differences between stem cell transplantation and routine treatment (RR 0.11, 95%CI 0.01 to 2.31, P = 0.16). Three studies indicated a statistically significant improvement of some functional outcomes in patients treated by stem cell transplantation. Improvements of cognitive function were reported in another trial. One trial showed that the stem cell transplantation significantly improved qual ity of life compared with the control group. Conclusion The current evidence is insufficient to determine whether or not stem cell transplantation is a safe and effective therapy for stroke patients. High-quality, large-scale randomized trials are needed to assess the role of stem cell transplantation for stroke.
Objective To study the short and medium term effect of myocardial contractile force by implantation of endothelial progenitor cells （EPCs） in the myocardial infarction model. Methods Hundred and twenty SD rats were equally and randomly divided into experimental group and control group （60 rats in each group）. Acute myocardial infarction model was created by ligation of LAD. Autologous EPCs were purified from peripheral blood then implanted into the acute myocardial infarct site via topical injection. IMDM were used in control group. Specimens and muscle strip were harvested at 3, 6 weeks, 6, 8 and 12 months after EPCs implantation for contractile force study and to detect the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor（VEGF）, basic fibroblast growth factor （bFGF） and Ⅷ factor by immunohistology and video image digital analysis system. Results The expression of VEGF, bFGF and the microvessel counts in experimental group were much higher than those of control group（P〈 0.01） at 3, 6 weeks and 6 months after transplantation. The contractile force in experimental group was better than that in control group（P〈0.01） at the same time. But from 8 months after implantation, the contractile force and so on were not up in the experimental group. Conclusion EPCs, after being implanted into infarct myocardium, shows the ability of improvement of the contractile performance in infarcted myocardium by means of angiogenesis and vasculogenesis and the medium term results are persistent.
Objective To observe the survival of human umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) after injection into the vitreous of rabbits,and the animal safety under those procedures.Methods Twentyseven pigmented rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups (intravitreal injection 1 week group，2 weeks group and 4 weeks group)， each with 9 rabbits.For each animal the right eye was the experimental eye receiving hUCMSCs injection,while the left eye was the control eye receiving culture medium. The rabbit eyes were examined by slitlamp microscope, indirect ophthalmoscopy, fundus photography, fundus fluorescence angiography（FFA）and Tonopen tonometer before and after injection. hUCMSCs were labeled by CMDil in vitro, and their survival status was measured by confocal fluorescence microscopy, light microscope and transmission electron microscope at 4 weeks after injection. Results Four weeks after injection, a large number of the hUCMSCs were still alive in the vitreous cavity. The overall condition of those rabbits was good. The anterior segment and retina of experimental eyes were normal, without hyperfluorescence, hypofluorescence and leakage in the retina at 1,2 and 4 weeks after injection. There was no significant difference on IOP before and after injection at different time points (P＞0.05), and no obvious changes at cornea, anterior chamber angle,lens,retinal structure by.light microscope and transmission electron microscope examination.Conclusion hUC-MSCs can survive in the rabbit vitreous for four weeks；intravitreal injection of hUCMSCs was safe and feasible.
ObjectiveTo observe the influence of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSC) transplantation into vitreous cavity of diabetic rats on the retinal morphology, and the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and rhodopsin (RHO). Methods78 male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. 70 rats were injected with streptozotocin by tail vein injection at a dose of 40 mg/kg to establish the diabetes mellitus model, and another 8 rats were injected with 0.1 mol/L pH 4.0 citric acid buffer at the same dose as the normal control group. After 6 weeks of modeling, 10 rats were taken as the control group of diabetic model. hUCMSC suspension was injected into the right eye vitreous cavity of the remaining 60 rats, and the same volume of Dulbecco's modified Eagle/F12 medium was injected into the left vitreous cavity as control eyes. 1, 2 and 4 weeks after transplantation, follow-up experiments were performed. The experimental eyes were labeled as U1, U2, and U4 groups, while the control eyes were recorded as D1, D2, D4, and each group consisted of 20 eyes. After paraffin section and hematoxylin-eosin staining, the structure of the retina was observed by optical microscopy and the thickness of the outer nuclear layer and the inner nuclear layer (INL) were measured. The distribution and migration of hUCMSC in rat retina were observed by frozen section-tissue immunofluorescence assay. The mRNA and protein expression of GFAP and RHO in the retina were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot assays. ResultsThe results of optical microscope observation showed the normal structure of retina in normal control group. The retinal nerve fiber layer (NFL) was thinned and the number of retinal ganglion cells (RGC) in the control group of diabetic rats was decreased. The decreased number and disorder arrangement of RGC were observed as well in U1, D1 rats. The RGC number of U2, U4, D2, D4 rats was gradually decreased. Compared with D4 group, the thickness of INL in U4 group was significantly increased (P < 0.05). Tissue immunofluorescence assay showed that hUCMSC were distributed along the inner limiting membrane in the retina of the U1 group, while the number of hUCMSC in the U2 group was gradually decreased, mainly in the NFL and ganglion cell layers. Real-time PCR and Western blot data indicated that the relative expression of GFAP mRNA and protein in the diabetic retina was significantly increased, and the relative expression of RHO mRNA and protein decreased gradually in the diabetic model group and the D1, D2, D4 groups. Compared with D2 and D4 groups, the mRNA and protein expression of GFAP in U2 and U4 groups were decreased, and the relative expression of RHO mRNA and protein were all increased (P < 0.01). ConclusionhUCMSC could migrate and integrate into the retina, after the transplantation into the vitreous cavity of diabetic rats, which reduced the expression of GFAP, but enhanced the expression of RHO.
Objective To observe the effects of subretinal transplantation of rat mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs) on Sodium Iodate (SI)induced retinal degeneration. Methods One hundred and twenty BrownNorway (BN) rats were divided into three groups including SI injection group,rMSCs transplantation group and normal control group, each with 40 rats. The retinal degeneration was induced by caudal vein injection of SI. The retinal pigment epithelium（RPE）and neural retinal were evaluated by ocular fundus photograph, fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA)，electroretinogram (ERG) and histological approach, and TUNEL（terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferasemediated dUTP nick end labeling ）. CMDiIprelabeled primary rMSCs were transplanted into the subretinal space of SIinduced rats. The survival, integration, and differentiation of rMSCs were observed between 14 day to 60 day after the transplantation.Results The rat retinal function was gradually reduced after14 days of SI injection, with a timedependent manner. After the RPE cells were damaged，the outer segments of photoreceptors became disrupted and shortened until karyopyknosis. The nuclear morphology and positive TUNEL labeling indicated that the death of photoreceptor cells was apoptosis. After rMSCs transplantation, CMDiI labeled donor cells were observed to be scattered in the subretinal space and expressed RPE cell markers. Average amplitude of b wave and Ops (oscillation potential) in ERG improved 27.80%,59.38% respectively after rMSCs transplantation.Conclusions Transplanted rMSCs can survive in subretinal space and differentiate into RPE.