Adult Mouse Post Mortem Neural Precursors Survive, Differentiate, Counteract Cytokine Production and Promote Functional Recovery after Transplantation in Experimental Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating clinical condition, characterized by a complex of neurological dysfunctions. Adult neural stem cells (NSCs) from the subventricular zone of the forebrain have been considered a potential tool for cell replacement therapies. We have recently isolated a subclass of neural progenitors from the cadaver of mouse donors. These cells, named Post Mortem Neural Precursor Cells (PM-NPCs), express both erythropoietin and its receptor and their EPO-dependent differentiation abilities produce a significantly higher percentage of neurons than regular NSCs. The aim of the present study was to compare the reparative properties of PM-NPCs and those expressed by NSCs in a mouse model of traumatic spinal cord injury. PM-NPCs and NSCs were administered intravenously, and then functional recovery and fate of transplanted cells were studied. Animals transplanted with PM-NPCs showed a more remarkably improved recovery of hind limb function than NSCs treated animals. The PM-NPCs effect was accompanied by reduced myelin loss, counteraction of the invasion of lesion site by macrophages, and attenuation of cytokine production. PM-NPCs migrate mostly at the injury site, where they survive at a significantly higher extent than classical NSCs.