Restorative effects of human neural stem cell grafts on the primate spinal cord

Nat Med. 2018 May;24(4):484-490. doi: 10.1038/nm.4502. Epub 2018 Feb 26.

Abstract

We grafted human spinal cord-derived neural progenitor cells (NPCs) into sites of cervical spinal cord injury in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Under three-drug immunosuppression, grafts survived at least 9 months postinjury and expressed both neuronal and glial markers. Monkey axons regenerated into grafts and formed synapses. Hundreds of thousands of human axons extended out from grafts through monkey white matter and synapsed in distal gray matter. Grafts gradually matured over 9 months and improved forelimb function beginning several months after grafting. These findings in a 'preclinical trial' support translation of NPC graft therapy to humans with the objective of reconstituting both a neuronal and glial milieu in the site of spinal cord injury.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Axons / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Survival
  • Humans
  • Macaca mulatta
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Nerve Regeneration*
  • Neural Stem Cells / cytology
  • Neural Stem Cells / transplantation*
  • Spinal Cord / pathology
  • Spinal Cord / physiopathology*
  • Spinal Cord / ultrastructure
  • Treatment Outcome