Transplantation of embryonic stem cell-derived neural stem cells for spinal cord injury in adult mice

AIMS: To investigate the efficacy of embryonic stem cell-derived neural stem cells (NSCs) for spinal cord injury (SCI) in mice and whether a combination treatment with thyroid hormone provides a more effective ES cell-based therapy. METHODS: Nestin-positive NSCs were induced from undifferentiated mouse ES cells by a step-by-step culture and used as grafts. Thirty-six mice were subjected to an SCI at Th10 and divided into three groups of 12. Graft cells were transplanted into the injury site 10 days after injury. Group 1 mice were left under observation without receiving graft cells, while mice in Group 2 received 2 x 104 graft cells, and those in Group 3 received 2 x 104 graft cells and were treated with a continuous intraperitoneal injection of thyroxin using osmotic mini-pumps. Behavioral improvement was assessed by a scoring system throughout the experimental period until post-transplantation day (PD) 28. RESULTS: Mice in Groups 2 and 3 demonstrated an improved behavioral function, as compared to those in Group 1 after PD 14. There was no significant difference in behavioral recovery between Groups 2 and 3. CONCLUSIONS: Transplantation of ES-NSCs into the injury site was effective for SCI, while thyroxine did not deliver additional effectiveness.