[Transplanted adipose-derived stem cells promote the expression of deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC) and neurofilament-200 (NF-200) in peri-infarct cortex of rats].

Objective To investigate the effects of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) transplantation on the expression of deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC) and neurofilament-200 (NF-200) in peri-infarct cortex of rats. Methods SD rats were randomly divided into sham group, model group and ADSCs group. The rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was established with the modified Longa's method. Twenty-four hours after MCAO, 50 μL of cell suspension containing about 2×10 PKH-26-labeled ADSCs was injected into the carotid artery of rats in the ADSCs group, and the same dose of saline was given to the rats in the model group. Day 7 and 14 after MCAO, the migration of ADSCs in rat brains was observed under a fluorescence microscope, and the protein levels of DCC and NF-200 in the peri-infarct cortex were measured by Western blot analysis and the expression and distribution of DCC and NF-200 were detected by immunofluorescent histochemistry. Results PKH-26-labeled ADSCs were observed in the rat brains of ADSC group, and most of them were located in the peri-infarct cortex. At 7 and 14 days after MCAO, the expression of DCC in the model group was higher than that in the sham group, while the expression level of NF-200 was lower. Besides, the expression of DCC and NF-200 in the ADSC group was both higher than that in the model group. In the peri-infract cortex, DCC was mainly expressed in NF-200-positive neuronal axons. Conclusion The ADSCs can migrate to the peri-infarct cortex after transplantation via carotid artery, and may strengthen the axonal regeneration and repairment by promoting the expression of DCC and NF-200 in this region.