Implantation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell sheets promotes axonal regeneration and restores bladder function after spinal cord injury

Jiasheng Chen; Lin Wang; Meng Liu; Guo Gao; Weixin Zhao; Qiang Fu; Ying Wang

doi:10.1186/s13287-022-03188-1

Implantation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell sheets promotes axonal regeneration and restores bladder function after spinal cord injury

Stem Cell Res Ther. 2022 Oct 12;13(1):503. doi: 10.1186/s13287-022-03188-1.

Authors

Jiasheng Chen^#¹, Lin Wang^#¹, Meng Liu¹, Guo Gao², Weixin Zhao³, Qiang Fu⁴, Ying Wang⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Urology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Eastern Institute of Urologic Reconstruction, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
² Key Laboratory for Thin Film and Micro Fabrication of the Ministry of Education, School of Sensing Science and Engineering, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
³ Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, USA.
⁴ Department of Urology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Eastern Institute of Urologic Reconstruction, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. jamesqfu@126.com.
⁵ Department of Urology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Eastern Institute of Urologic Reconstruction, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. sdzbbswangying@alumni.sjtu.edu.cn.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Background: Cell-based therapy using adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) is a promising treatment strategy for neurogenic bladder (NB) associated with spinal cord injury (SCI). However, therapeutic efficacy is low because of inefficient cell delivery. Cell sheets improve the efficacy of cell transplantation. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of transplanting ADSC sheets into an SCI rat model and focused on the function and pathological changes of the bladder.

Methods: ADSC sheets were prepared from adipose tissue of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats using temperature-responsive cell culture dishes. Adult female SD rats were subjected to SCI by transection at the T10 level and administered ADSC sheets or gelatin sponge (the control group). Four and 8 weeks later, in vivo cystometrograms were obtained for voiding function assessment. Rats were sacrificed and the expression of various markers was analyzed in spinal and bladder tissues.

Results: The number of β-tubulin III-positive axons in the ADSC sheet transplantation group was higher than that in the control group. Conversely, expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein in the ADSC sheet transplantation group was lower than that in the control group. Cystometry showed impairment of the voiding function after SCI, which was improved after ADSC sheet transplantation with increased high-frequency oscillation activity. Furthermore, ADSC sheet transplantation prevented disruption of the bladder urothelium in SCI rats, thereby maintaining the intact barrier. Compared with fibrosis of the bladder wall in the control group, the ADSC sheet transplantation group had normal morphology of the bladder wall and reduced tissue fibrosis as shown by downregulation of type 1 collagen. ADSC sheet transplantation also resulted in strong upregulation of contractile smooth muscle cell (SMC) markers (α-smooth muscle actin and smoothelin) and downregulation of synthetic SMC markers (MYH10 and RBP1).

Conclusion: ADSC sheet transplantation significantly improved voiding function recovery in rats after SCI. ADSC sheet transplantation is a promising cell delivery and treatment option for NB related to SCI.

Keywords: Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs); Cell sheets; Cell-based therapy; Neurogenic bladder (NB); Spinal cord injury (SCI).

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Actins / metabolism
Adipose Tissue
Animals
Collagen Type I / metabolism
Female
Fibrosis
Gelatin
Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / metabolism
Mesenchymal Stem Cells* / metabolism
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Spinal Cord Injuries* / pathology
Spinal Cord Injuries* / therapy
Tubulin / genetics
Tubulin / metabolism
Urinary Bladder / pathology

Substances

Actins
Collagen Type I
Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein
Tubulin
Gelatin