Yan Qing, Ruan Jing-wen, Ding Ying, Li Wen-jie, Li Yan, Zeng Yuan-shan
Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
Exp Toxicol Pathol. 2011 Jan;63(1-2):151-6. doi: 10.1016/j.etp.2009.11.002. Epub 2009 Dec 16.
In order to improve the structure and function of acute spinal cord injury, the present study investigated the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) on the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and the regeneration of nerve fibers in transected spinal cord of rats. The differentiation of MSCs into neuron-like cells and neuroglial cells and regeneraton of 5-hydroxytrptamine (HT) nerve fibers in the injured site of spinal cord were assessed after treatment with EA, MSCs transplantation, and EA plus MSCs transplantation. Compared with the control and MSCs groups, the content of endogenous neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) in the injured site and nearby tissues was increased in EA and EA+MSCs group. The differentiation of MSCs into neuronal-like cells and oligodendrocyte-like cells and number of 5-HT positive nerve fibers in the injured site were enhanced in the EA+MSCs group. Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan score of the paralyzed hindlimbs was highest in the EA+MSCs group. The present study demonstrates that electro-acupuncture can promote the differentiation of MSCs and regeneration of nerve fibers in injured spinal cord through induction of endogenous NT-3, and that combination of EA and MSCs transplantation can improve partial function of paralyzed hindlimbs.
为改善急性脊髓损伤的结构和功能，本研究探讨了电针（EA）对大鼠横断脊髓中间充质干细胞（MSCs）分化及神经纤维再生的影响。在用EA、MSCs移植以及EA联合MSCs移植治疗后，评估了MSCs向神经元样细胞和神经胶质细胞的分化以及脊髓损伤部位5-羟色胺（HT）神经纤维的再生情况。与对照组和MSCs组相比，EA组和EA+MSCs组损伤部位及附近组织中内源性神经营养因子-3（NT-3）的含量增加。EA+MSCs组中MSCs向神经元样细胞和少突胶质细胞样细胞的分化以及损伤部位5-HT阳性神经纤维的数量增加。EA+MSCs组瘫痪后肢的Basso、Beattie、Bresnahan评分最高。本研究表明，电针可通过诱导内源性NT-3促进损伤脊髓中MSCs的分化和神经纤维的再生，并且EA与MSCs移植联合应用可改善瘫痪后肢的部分功能。
