Stem cell transplantation for spinal cord injury (sci)

The original cell transplantation technology has been developed in the Centre for treating SCI patients. After surgically disrupting an intramedullary cyst (see Figure 1), the spinal cord defect is entirely filled up with the special gel containing fetal-derived, immature (stem) cells (see Figure 2). Moreover, during several months after the surgery each patient is subarachnoidally grafted with fetal-derived cells one or more times. The donor cell combination that is highly effective in generating regenerative processes in an adult nervous tissue has been previously determined by special experimental studies.

Figure 1. Dissection of the connective tissue cyst and opening access to the cord defect.

Figure 2. Infill of the spinal cord defect with the cell- containing gel implant.

By present a total of 122 SCI patients have been subjected to the cell transplantation treatment . In nearly 60 % patients the severity of SCI was initially characterized by complete motor/sensory function disorder lower an injured level (A grade of SCI).

The posttraumatic time was from several months to 5 years. The outcomes of treating the patients with the follow-up times of 2 years or longer are shown in Table 1.

Table 1. The outcomes of treatment of SCI patients.

A, complete motor and sensory function disorder;

B, motor complete, sensory incomplete function disorder;

C, motor and sensory incomplete function disorder;

D, useful motor function with or without auxiliary means (a strength in

most muscles is of 3 points or more)

As can be seen, the various clinical improvements were noted in more than the half of cell-transplantation -treated patients. It should be noted that neurological changes in the cell-grafted patients are being developed gradually for a long time (3 years and longer) and, therefore, the presented data are not final and may be changed in the course of time. The cell transplantation treatment is safe and well tolerated; no serious complications related to grafted cells were noted. Thus, the stem cell-based technology opens new feasible opportunities for effective treatment of SCI patients.

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