MARTA AGUDO BARRIUSO, JOSE EDUARDO MILLAN RIVERO, DAVID GARCÍA BERNAL, FRANCISCO MANUEL NADAL NICOLAS, PALOMA SOBRADO CALVI, MIGUEL BLANQUER BLANQUER, JOSE MARIA MORALEDA JIMÉNEZ,

• [GI/IMIB/C061/2011] TRASPLANTE HEMATOPOYÉTICO / TERAPIA CELULAR
• [GI/IMIB/C004/2011] Oftalmología Experimental

Traumatic injury to mammalian central nervous system (CNS) neurons causes an immediate and irrecoverable loss of function and the death of the wounded neurons. Optic nerve axotomy triggers the specific death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Using this very well characterized model of CNS trauma, we have analyzed in vivo the neuroprotective properties of mesenchymal stem cells isolated from the Wharton’s jelly of the human umbilical cord (hWJ-MSCs) on axotomized rat RGCs.

hWJ-MSCs were isolated from 3 different human umbilical cords and characterized regarding its differentiation capacity, immunophenotype, and immunomodulatory properties as stated by the International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT). hWJ-MSCs were administered into the vitreous chamber of adult albino rats. Three animal groups were done: i/ intravitreal administration of hWJ-MSCs into intact eyes, to study toxicity, ii/ optic nerve crush (ONC) and intravitreal administration of hWJ-MSCs, to study RGC neuroprotection and, iii/ ONC plus intravitreal administration of vehicle, as the control group. Retinas were analyzed by immunodetection, western blotting or ELISA

Our data show that hWJ-MSCs administered intravitreally are neither toxic nor tumorigenic. In injured retinas, RGC survival was significantly higher in the hWJ-MSCs-treated groups compared to vehicle ones (twofold at 7 days and threefold at 14 days post lesion). Furthermore, there is no difference in the neuroprotection conferred by hWJ-MSCs isolated from different umbilical cords. Finally, there is significant increase of neurotrophic factors, such as BDNF or CNTF in injured and transplanted retinas vs. injured ones.

All these data indicate that mesenchymal stem cells isolated from the human umbilical cord are a promising therapy to treat the injured mammalian CNS, and that their neuroprotective capacities might be mediated, at least in part, by secretion of neurotrophic factors Unpublished results Colaborationn intra-IMIB: Grupo de Oftalmología Experimental y Unidad de Hematología y Transplante Hematopoyético.