Department of Neurology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.
Department of Neurology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Xiangyang 441000, China.
Neural Plast. 2017;2017:6809745. doi: 10.1155/2017/6809745. Epub 2017 Oct 22.
Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), as precursors to endothelial cells, play a significant part in the process of endogenous blood vessel repair and maintenance of endothelial integrity. Adiponectin (APN) is an adipocyte-specific adipocytokine. In this study, we aim to test whether we transplant a combined graft of EPCs transfected with the adiponectin gene into a rat model of cerebral ischemia could improve functional recovery after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a MCAO control group, a MCAO EPC treatment group, and a MCAO LV-APN-EPC treatment group. A focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion model was induced by the intraluminal suture method. After 2 h of reperfusion, EPCs were transplanted by injection through the tail vein. A rotarod test was conducted to assess behavioral function before MCAO and on days 1, 7, and 14 after MCAO. After 14 d, TTC staining, CD31 immunofluorescence, and TUNEL staining were used to evaluate infarct volume, microvessel density, and cell apoptosis. Results revealed that behavioral function, infarct area percentage, microvessel density, and cell apoptosis rates were more favorable in the LV-APN-EPC treatment group than in the EPC treatment group. These data suggested that gene-modified cell therapy may be a useful approach for the treatment of ischemic stroke.
内皮祖细胞（EPCs）作为内皮细胞的前体细胞，在内源性血管修复和维持内皮完整性过程中发挥重要作用。脂联素（APN）是一种脂肪细胞特异性细胞因子。本研究旨在探讨将转染脂联素基因的 EPC 联合移植入大脑中动脉闭塞（MCAO）大鼠模型是否能改善 MCAO 后功能恢复。SD 大鼠随机分为 MCAO 对照组、MCAO EPC 治疗组和 MCAO LV-APN-EPC 治疗组。采用线栓法诱导局灶性脑缺血再灌注模型。再灌注 2 h 后，通过尾静脉注射移植 EPC。在 MCAO 前和 MCAO 后第 1、7 和 14 天进行转棒试验以评估行为功能。14 d 后，通过 TTC 染色、CD31 免疫荧光和 TUNEL 染色评估梗死体积、微血管密度和细胞凋亡。结果显示，LV-APN-EPC 治疗组的行为功能、梗死面积百分比、微血管密度和细胞凋亡率均优于 EPC 治疗组。这些数据表明，基因修饰细胞治疗可能是治疗缺血性脑卒中的一种有效方法。
