Percutaneous transplantation of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells in a dog suspected to have fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy

Abstract

The use of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells for cell transplantation therapy holds great promise for repairing spinal cord injury. Here we report the first clinical trial transplantation of human umbilical cord (hUCB)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into the spinal cord of a dog suspected to have fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy (FCEM) and that experienced a loss of deep pain sensation. Locomotor functions improved following transplantation in a dog. Based on our findings, we suggest that transplantation of hUCB-derived MSCs will have beneficial therapeutic effects on FCEM patients lacking deep pain sensation.

Keywords: dog; fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy; human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells; percutaneous transplantation; xenotransplantaion.

Fig. 1

T1-weighted (TR 530, TE 26) and T2-weighted (TR 3500, TE 90) MRI images of the dog 12 h (A~D) after the onset of clinical signs. The transverse T1-weighted image showed isointensity in the parenchyma of L2 (A) and L3 (C). Arrows: transverse T2-weighted image showing hyperintensity in the parenchyma of L2 (B) and L3 (D).

Fig. 2

T1-weighted (TR 550.0, TE 12.6) and T2-weighted (TR 4400, TE 96) MRI images of the dog 12 weeks after transplantation. The transverse T1-weighted image showed isointensity in the parenchyma of L3 (A). In the transverse T2-weighted image of L3, an area of hyperintensity was visible in the dorsal aspect of the spinal cord (B).