The therapeutic effect of CD133(+) cells derived from human umbilical cord blood on neonatal mouse hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy model.

Aims: Brain damage at birth can cause lifelong neurodevelopmental deficits. Recently, stem cell therapies have been used in several fields of medicine. We previously reported that CD133(+) cells, endothelial progenitor cells derived from human umbilical cord blood, induce nerve extension in an ex vivo hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy model. Here, we used an in vivo model to examine the effect of CD133(+) cells in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

Main Methods: Hypoxic-ischemic brain lesions were induced in neonatal severe combined immunodeficiency mice using the Rice-Vannucci method. CD133(+) cells were administered by intraperitoneal injection 24h after injury.

Key Findings: Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that intraperitoneally transplanted CD133(+) cells migrate towards the brain 48h after injection. Moreover, in CD133(+) cell-treated animals, motor function improved and the brain was protected from the hypoxic-ischemic insult compared with untreated animals.

Significance: Our results suggest that CD133(+) cells derived from human umbilical cord blood have therapeutic potential in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.