Using stem cells as carriers of IL-4 to promote recovery after spinal cord injury

Abstract

Spontaneous regeneration of the CNS after spinal cord injury (SCI) is limited, due to intrinsic inhibition of neuroregeneration, but also resulting from SCI-associated inflammation. Therefore, research on new therapeutic strategies focuses on modulation of this inflammatory response. We hypothesize that the immunomodulatory and regenerative functions of IL-4-producing stem cells (SCs) promote axon regeneration and SC-survival to improve functional recovery after SCI. To investigate this hypothesis, IL-4 secreting BMSCs will be used in a pilot study to investigate whether the use of SCs is a good way of delivering IL-4 to the site of injury to promote recovery after SCI, as measured by functional tests. Meanwhile, the NSCs will be characterized and transduced for their use in future experiments. Furthermore, the effect of recombinant mouse IL-4 treatment on the viability and the phenotype of NSCs will be investigated in vitro.