Despite its high incidence, nerve fiber (axon and myelin) damage after cerebral infarct has not yet been deeply investigated. To investigate white matter repair after adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (ADMSC) administration in an experimental model of subcortical stroke. Moreover, to analyze the ADMSC secretome could be implicated in this repair function.
An animal model of subcortical ischemic stroke with white matter affectation was induced in rats by injection of Endothelin-1. At 24 h, 2x10(6) ADMSC were administered ((i.v.) to the treatment group. Functional evaluation, lesion size, fiber tract integrity, cell death, proliferation, white matter repair markers [Oligodendrocyte Transcription factor (Olig-2), Neurofilament (NF), Myelin basic protein (MBP)] and NogoA were all studied after sacrifice (7d and 28d). ADMSC migration and implantation to the brain as well as proteomics analysis and functions of the secretome were also analyzed.
Neither ADMSC migration nor implantation to the brain was observed after ADMSC administration. By contrast, ADMSC implantation was detected in peripheral organs. Treated group showed a smaller functional deficit, smaller lesion area, less cell death, more oligodendrocyte proliferation, more white matter connectivity and higher amount of myelin formation. The treated animals also showed higher levels of white matter-associated markers in the injured area than the control group. Proteomics analysis of the ADMSC secretome identified 2,416 proteins, not all of them previously described to be involved in brain plasticity.
The conclusion of this study was that white matter integrity in subcortical stroke is in part restored by ADMSC treatment, mediated by repair molecular factors implicated in axonal sprouting, remyelination and oligodendrogenesis. These findings are associated with improved functional recovery after stroke.