Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation downregulates plasma level and the microglia expression of transforming growth factor β1 in the acute phase of cerebral cortex ischemia.

Background: Both bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BM-MSC) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) have a strong anti-inflammatory capacity in stroke. But their relationship has not been well addressed. In this study, we investigated how intravenous BM-MSC transplantation in rats effected the expression of TGF-β1 48 h post cerebral ischemia, and we analyzed the main cells that produce TGF-β1.