Journal of Bone Research
Open Access

Abstract

Bone Marrow-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplant Survival in the Injured Rodent Spinal Cord

Gaby Ritfeld and Martin Oudega

Transplantation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is a promising therapy for spinal cord repair. Its potential, however, is limited by poor survival of the cells in the damaged nervous tissue. A number of studies have tried to improve MSC transplant survival, yet often with limited or short-term effects. Survival enhancing strategies include optimizing timing of transplantation, suppressing the immune response, transplantation within a scaffold to limit anoikis, reducing reactive oxygen species and/or macrophages, genetically modifying MSCs, and electrical stimulation of the spinal cord. This review provides an overview of studies that have investigated MSC survival after transplantation into animal models of spinal cord injury.