Publication
Title
Cell-based delivery of interleukin-13 directs alternative activation of macrophages resulting in improved functional outcome after spinal cord injury
Author
Abstract
The therapeutic effects of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation following spinal cord injury (SCI) to date have been limited. Therefore, we aimed to enhance the immunomodulatory properties of MSCs via continuous secretion of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-13 (IL-13). By using MSCs as carriers of IL-13 (MSC/IL-13), we investigated their therapeutic potential, compared with non-engineered MSCs, in a mouse model of SCI. We show that transplanted MSC/IL-13 significantly improve functional recovery following SCI, and also decrease lesion size and demyelinated area by more than 40%. Further histological analyses in CX3CR1EGFP/+ CCR2RFP/+ transgenic mice indicated that MSC/IL-13 significantly decrease the number of resident microglia and increase the number of alternatively activated macrophages. In addition, the number of macrophage-axon contacts in MSC/IL-13-treated mice was decreased by 50%, suggesting a reduction in axonal dieback. Our data provide evidence that transplantation of MSC/IL-13 leads to improved functional and histopathological recovery in a mouse model of SCI.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Stem Cell Reports
Publication
2016
ISSN
2213-6711
DOI
10.1016/J.STEMCR.2016.11.005
Volume/pages
7 :6 (2016) , p. 1099-1115
ISI
000393188500008
Pubmed ID
27974221
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
Immunomodulatory therapy for spinal cord injury via IL-4 en IL-13 secreting stem cells.
Characterisation of innate immune responses in the central nervous system: modulation towards immunological acceptance of allogeneic cellular grafts.
Control of glioblastoma by modulation of the brain's innate immune responses.
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 05.01.2017
Last edited 09.10.2023
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