Cell-Based Delivery of Interleukin-13 Directs Alternative Activation of Macrophages Resulting in Improved Functional Outcome after Spinal Cord Injury

• DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2016.11.005
• Publication Date: 2016-12-14T00:04:26Z
• Authors: Dearbhaile Dooley; Evi Lemmens; Tim Vangansewinkel; Debbie Le Blon; Chloé Hoornaert; Peter Ponsaerts; Sven Hendrix
• Keywords: CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; 0301 basic medicine; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Interleukin-13; Macrophages; mesenchymal stem cells; interleukin-13; spinal cord injury; cell transplantation; microglia; macrophages; Cell Count; Mesenchymal Stem Cells; Recovery of Function; Macrophage Activation; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; Article; Axons; Mice, Inbred C57BL; 03 medical and health sciences; Neuroprotective Agents; Treatment Outcome; Animals; Human medicine; Microglia; Biology; Spinal Cord Injuries; Demyelinating Diseases

The therapeutic effects of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation following spinal cord injury (SCI) to date have been limited. Therefore, we aimed enhance the immunomodulatory properties MSCs via continuous secretion anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-13 (IL-13). By using as carriers IL-13 (MSC/IL-13), investigated their potential, compared with non-engineered MSCs, in a mouse model SCI. We show that transplanted MSC/IL-13 significantly improve functional recovery SCI, and also decrease lesion size demyelinated area by more than 40%. Further histological analyses CX3CR1EGFP/+ CCR2RFP/+ transgenic mice indicated number resident microglia increase alternatively activated macrophages. In addition, macrophage-axon contacts MSC/IL-13-treated was decreased 50%, suggesting reduction axonal dieback. Our data provide evidence leads improved histopathological