Brain-derived neurotrophic factor-modified umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell transplantation improves neurological deficits in rats with traumatic brain injury

Abstract

This study explored the effect of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene-modified umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (UCMSC) transplantation on neurological functional improvement in rats after brain trauma. A rat model of cerebral contusion in the motor-sensory cortex was established by the weight hammer-falling method. UCMSCs were cultured and transferred with BDNF gene. After determining BDNF expression and activity, the BDNF gene-modified UCMSCs were implanted into brains of rats receiving the brain injury. The neurological function was evaluated 1 and 2 weeks after brain injury. BDNF expression was then determined by immunohistochemistry. Severe neurological dysfunction was observed in animals subjected to contusion brain injury (10.50 ± 0.53). A significant improvement in neurological function was found in the UCMSC transplantation animals (7.75 ± 0.71) compared with the brain injury only group (p < 0.01). Rats with BDNF gene-modified UCMSCs showed the highest improvement in behavior (5.50 ± 0.76; p < 0.01). BDNF gene-modified UCMSCs can survive and migrate in rat cerebral tissues. The transplantation of these UCMSCs can improve the neurological functions of rats with traumatic brain injury.

KEYWORDS: :

• contusion brain injury
• umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSC)
• BDNF
• neurological function improvement