Somatotopic principle of perineural implantation of stem cells in patients with brain injuries

Background: Neuro destructive processes of any etiology are related to problematic and
socially important diseases due to ineffective therapeutic strategy and need to search for
new successful ways of treatment and rehabilitation of patient with cerebral infarctions
and brain attacks
Aims: Authors plant overify hypothesis on viability of additional use of perineural
implantation of autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in order to optimize standard
therapy of patients with brain attacks. Such combined technology is aim datextra
activation of brain plasticity mechanisms during development of neuro destructive
processes.
Methods: The technique of MSC perineural migration to injured brain regions was
experimentally verifed on rats (n=40) paying attention to somatotopic organization of
cranial nerves.
This technique was clinically tested in pilot project. Phenotyping of autologous MSC from
adipose tissue (AT) was performed in 23 patients with brain attacks. These 23 patients
received standard treatment as per international guidelines together with three perineural
implantations of autologous MSC from AT with 5-9days intervals. The other group of
patients (n=7) received only standard therapy as per international guidelines.
Results: Additional use of cell therapy resulted in more rapid and effective recovery of
disordered neurological functions in all cases compared to those who received standard
therapy. The phenomenon of abrupt recovery of neurological functions was established
during frst 24hours after each injection of autologous MSC. Cumulative recovery of
functions progressed after each implantation.
Discussion and conclusion: Experimentally developed technique of perineural implantation
of autologous MSC was successfully verifed in clinical conditions in accordance with
certifed cell therapy guideline (The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus) in
combination with standard treatment of patients with cerebral infarctions. Cell therapy
with autologous MSC from AT by means of perineural delivery to injured brain regions is
the basis for activation of reparative potential of nerve tissue and progressive recovery of
neurological functions in patients with cerebral infarctions.