Neuroprotection and immunomodulation with mesenchymal stem cells in chronic experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in the chronic model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).

Design: Mesenchymal stromal cells were obtained from the bone marrow of naïve C57BL and green fluorescent protein-transgenic mice and cultured with Eagle minimum essential medium/alpha medium after removal of adhering cells. Following 2 to 3 passages, MSCs were injected intraventricularly or intravenously into mice in which chronic EAE had been induced with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein 35-55 peptide.

Results: In 8 separate experiments, the intravenously and intraventricularly injected green fluorescent protein-positive MSCs were attracted to the areas of central nervous system inflammation and expressed galactocerebroside, O4, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and beta-tubulin type III. The clinical course of chronic EAE was ameliorated in MSC-treated animals (0% mortality; mean [SE] maximal EAE score, 1.76 [1.01] and 1.8 [0.46] in the intraventricular and intravenous groups, respectively, vs 13% and 21% mortality and 2.80 [0.79] and 3.42 [0.54] mean maximal score in the controls). A strong reduction in central nervous system inflammation, accompanied by significant protection of the axons (86%-95% intact axons vs 45% in the controls) was observed in the animals injected with MSCs (especially following intraventricular administration). Mesenchymal stromal cells injected intravenously were detected in the lymph nodes and exhibited systemic immunomodulatory effects, downregulating proliferation of lymphocytes in response to myelin antigens and mitogens. Mesenchymal stromal cells cultured with fibroblast growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in vitro acquired neuronal-lineage cell morphology and expressed beta-tubulin type III, nestin glial fibrillary acidic protein, and O4.

Conclusions: Our results indicate that stem cells derived from bone marrow may provide a feasible and practical way for neuroprotection, immunomodulation, and possibly remyelination and neuroregeneration in diseases such as multiple sclerosis.