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Stroke. 2008;39:2867-2875
Published online before print July 24, 2008, doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.108.513978
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(Stroke. 2008;39:2867.)
© 2008 American Heart Association, Inc.


Original Contributions

Hematopoietic Stem Cells Reduce Postischemic Inflammation and Ameliorate Ischemic Brain Injury

Sönke Schwarting, MD; Sara Litwak, PhD; Wenlin Hao, MD; Mathias Bähr, MD; Jens Weise, MD Harald Neumann, MD

From Cerebral Ischemia Research Group (S.S., M.B., J.W.), Department of Neurology, University of Göttingen Medical School, Göttingen, Germany; European Neuroscience Institute Göttingen (W.H., H.N.), Göttingen, Germany; Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology (S.L., H.N.), University Bonn LIFE & BRAIN Center, University Bonn and Hertie-Foundation, Bonn, Germany; Department of Neurology (J.W.), University of Jena Medical School, Jena, Germany.

Correspondence to Harald Neumann, E-mail hneuman1{at}uni-bonn.de; or Jens Weise, E-mail JENS.WEISE@med.uni-jena.de


*    Abstract
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*Abstract
down arrowIntroduction
down arrowMaterials and Methods
down arrowResults
down arrowDiscussion
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Background and Purpose— Systemic injection of hematopoietic stem cells after ischemic cardiac or neural lesions is one approach to promote tissue repair. However, mechanisms of possible protective or reparative effects are poorly understood. In this study we analyzed the effect of lineage-negative bone marrow-derived hematopoietic stem and precursor cells (Lin-HSCs) on ischemic brain injury in mice.

Methods— Lin-HSCs were injected intravenously at 24 hours after onset of a 45-minute transient cerebral ischemia. Effects of Lin-HSCs injection on infarct size, apoptotic cell death, postischemic inflammation and cytokine gene transcription were analyzed.

Results— Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-marked Lin-HSCs were detected at 24 hours after injection in the spleen and later in ischemic brain parenchyma, expressing microglial but no neural marker proteins. Tissue injury assessment showed significantly smaller infarct volumes and less apoptotic neuronal cell death in peri-infarct areas of Lin-HSC–treated animals. Analysis of immune cell infiltration in ischemic hemispheres revealed a reduction of invading T cells and macrophages in treated mice. Moreover, Lin-HSC therapy counter-regulated proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine receptor gene transcription within the spleen.

Conclusions— Our data demonstrate that systemically applied Lin-HSCs reduce cerebral postischemic inflammation, attenuate peripheral immune activation and mediate neuroprotection after ischemic stroke.


Key Words: cell therapy • cerebral ischemia • hematopoietic stem cells • neuroprotection • postischemic inflammation


*    Introduction
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
*Introduction
down arrowMaterials and Methods
down arrowResults
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowReferences
 
Within 24 hours after ischemia, resident microglia become activated and migrate to the lesion site.1–3 Furthermore, blood and bone marrow (BM)-derived monocytes are recruited to the lesion and locally adopt a microglia-like phenotype.4 Activated microglial cells and invaded macrophages facilitate removal of cellular debris during the acute phase of ischemia but also release cytotoxic molecules, including inflammatory cytokines, complement factors, as well as free radicals.5 Although cytokines released after ischemia are considered to have "proinflammatory" as well as "anti-inflammatory" effects,6 the overall balance of postischemic inflammation appears to be shifted to a proapoptotic outcome resulting in enhanced cell death, exacerbated neuronal loss, and finally, expansion of the infarct size.3 Immune cell attraction from blood circulation and from the spleen toward the ischemic lesion site is mediated by chemokines released by glial cells, which also play a crucial role in recruitment of BM-derived stem and precursor cells.7 Thus, the use of exogenous BM-derived stem and precursor cells offers an attractive therapeutic approach in experimental cerebral ischemia. Unselected BM contains at least 2 populations of multipotent stem and progenitor cells, namely hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which are included in the lineage-negative (Lin-HSCs) population8,9 and marrow stromal cells, also termed mesenchymal stem cells.10

Chopp et al11–14 conducted several experiments with BM-derived stromal cells in experimental cerebral ischemia. Marrow stromal cell injection resulted in functional improvement and attenuated tissue damage after middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats.11–13 Furthermore, stromal cells were shown to migrate into the ischemic boundary zone15 accompanied by reduced neuronal apoptosis and enhanced neoangiogenesis.16,17 Human CD34+ HSCs systemically applied in experimental ischemia of immunocompromised mice 48 hours before stroke were shown to induce long-term neovascularization in the ischemic zone,18 and human umbilical cord blood cells also acted neuroprotective in experimental cerebral ischemia.19,20 However, it is unclear how hematopoietic stem or precursor cells could mediate neuroprotection.


*    Materials and Methods
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
*Materials and Methods
down arrowResults
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowReferences
 
Isolation of Lin-HSCs
BM was isolated from green fluorescent protein (GFP) expressing transgenic male mice (C57BL/6-Tg ACTB-EGFP, 1Osb/J; stock number 003291; JAX Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine) or C57BL/6 mice (6 to 8 weeks of age; Charles River, Sulzfeld, Germany; JAX Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine). Erythrocytes were lysed and Lin-HSCs were isolated by removing blood lineage marker-positive cells with immunomagnetic beads (Dynabeads M-450; Dynall; coupled with a sheep antirat antibody) and a cocktail of rat monoclonal antibodies against lineage markers (anti-CD45R/B220, anti-Mac-1, anti-Gr-1, anti-CD4, anti-CD8a, and anti-Ter119, all from BD Biosciences). For flow cytometry analysis (FACScalibur; BD Biosciences), total BM cells or Lin-HSCs were stained with biotin-conjugated anti-CD45, antic-Kit (BD Biosciences), or rat anti-CD11b, anti-TER119, anti-Gr-1, anti-B220, anti-CD8, anti-CD4 monoclonal antibodies, or isotype control antibodies (BD Biosciences), followed by FITC-conjugated streptavidin or FITC-conjugated goat antirat IgG secondary antibody (Dianova). Live gating was performed with propidium iodide (Sigma).

Induction of Focal Cerebral Ischemia and Intravenous Lin-HSC Injection
All experimental procedures were performed according to the EU guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals and approved by local authorities. Adult male C57BL/6 mice (Charles River; Sulzfeld, Germany) were anesthetized, body temperature was maintained at 37°C using a feedback-controlled heating system, and cerebral blood flow was assessed by recording laser Doppler flow to ensure appropriate ischemia (<30% of initial cerebral blood flow) and reperfusion. Focal cerebral ischemia was induced by transient occlusion (45 minutes) of the middle cerebral artery using the intraluminal filament technique as described earlier.21 Previously, we demonstrated in the same ischemia paradigm that arterial blood pressure, heart rate, arterial blood gases, and pH stay within their physiological range throughout the whole experimental procedure.22 At 24 hours after onset of ischemia, mice were randomly selected to receive either Lin-HSCs (5x106 Lin-HSCs in 200 µL phosphate-buffered saline [PBS], pH 7.4) or PBS (200 µL, pH 7.4) intravenously.

Infarct Volume Analysis
Infarct volume analysis was performed in Lin-HSC–injected and PBS-injected animals at 72 hours after treatment in a blinded fashion. Cryostat sections (10 coronal levels, from 2.1 mm anterior to 3.4 mm posterior of Bregma) were stained with cresyl violet and used for planimetrical determination of infarct sizes using an image analysis system (NIH Image 3.12). The area of infarction was measured by subtracting the nonlesioned area of the left (infarcted) hemisphere from the area of the right (noninfarcted) hemisphere in all sections. The infarct volume resulted from integration of sequential areas based on distances between analyzed sections according to stereotactic brain coordinates.23

TUNEL Staining and Quantification of TUNEL-Positive Cells
The terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) method was used to assess postischemic apoptotic cell death.24 Cryostat sections were fixed, incubated with terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase enzyme and nucleotide mix, followed by TUNEL blocking reagents according the manufacturer’s instruction (Roche Diagnostics–Applied Science). After streptavidin-labeling with Alexa Fluor 594 (1:1000; 1% bovine serum albumin, 0.3% Triton-PBS), sections were counterstained with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI; Sigma). TUNEL+ cells were counted in 9 0.1-mm2 areas within the peri-infarct zone at 3 different coronal levels for each animal. Analysis was performed in a blinded fashion. Numbers of TUNEL+ cells/mm2 are given as mean±SEM for Lin-HSC–treated and PBS-treated animals.

Quantitative, Spatial, and Morphological Analysis of GFP+ Cells
Lin-HSC–treated ischemic and nonischemic control mice were perfused with paraformaldehyde (4% in PBS) at 24, 48, or 72 hours after Lin-HSC infusion. Brains and spleens were removed, fixed, and cryosections were prepared. After staining with DAPI, quantitative, spatial, and morphological analysis of GFP+ cells within the brains was performed. Numbers of GFP+ cells per hemisphere were calculated by multiplying cells per analyzed section by the intersectional distance determined using stereotactic coordinates.23 Spatial analysis of cell distribution within the ischemic hemisphere was performed by categorizing the GFP+ cells as described previously.25

Lineage Marker Analysis of Central Nervous System and Spleen Invaded by Lin-HSCs
Immunohistochemistry was performed at 72 hours after cell injection using antibodies against CD11b (1:50; rat monoclonal; Serotec), double cortin (1:100; goat polyclonal; Santa Cruz), and glial fibrillary acid protein, followed by Alexa Fluor 594-conjugated goat antirat (1:500; Molecular Probes) or Cy3-conjugated donkey antigoat (1:200; Jackson ImmunoResearch) as secondary antibody, respectively. For Isolectin B4 (IB4) staining, sections were incubated with biotinylated IB4 (1:25; Vector Laboratories), followed by staining with Alexa Fluor 594-conjugated streptavidin (1:500; Molecular Probes). Spleen sections were refixed and immunostained with rat anti-CD45 monoclonal antibody (1:200; BD Pharmingen), followed by a Cy3-conjugated goat antirat secondary antibody (1:200; Dianova). All slices were counterstained with DAPI.

Evaluation of nDNA Content
A quantitative computer-assisted analysis (Software Axioplan Vision) of DAPI fluorescence was performed to determine the ploidy of GFP+ cells coexpressing IB4 or CD11b. A DNA index was calculated by measuring the DAPI fluorescence intensity of double-positive cells as previously described.26 DNA-indices of 60 double-positive cells and 10 surrounding endogenous cells were determined (mean DNA–index±SEM).

Characterization of Postischemic Apoptosis
Sections were incubated with a polyclonal rabbit antiactivated Caspase-3 antibody (1:2500; BD Biosciences) and a monoclonal mouse anti-NeuN antibody (1:200; Chemicon), followed by Cy3-conjugated goat antirabbit secondary antibody (1:400; Jackson ImmunoResearch) and an Alexa Fluor 488 goat antimouse secondary antibody (1:400; Molecular Probes), and counterstained with DAPI. The number of cells displaying double labeling for activated Caspase-3 and NeuN was quantified in relation to activated Caspase-3–positive cells (in %) from randomly selected fields.

Quantitative Analysis of Postischemic Inflammation
Lin-HSC–treated or PBS-treated mice were perfused with paraformaldehyde (4% in PBS) at 24, 48, or 72 hours after cell or PBS infusion. Brains were sectioned, embedded in paraffin, and IB4 staining was performed using biotinylated IB4 (1:25; Vector Laboratories), followed by incubation with Alexa Fluor 594-conjugated streptavidin (1:500; Molecular Probes). For CD3 staining, sections were incubated with a polyclonal rabbit anti-CD3 antibody (1:100; DakoCytomation), followed by goat antirabbit Cy3-conjugated secondary antibody (1:400; Dianova). All sections were counterstained with DAPI. Number of IB4-positive and CD3-positive cells was determined in ischemic basal ganglia of Lin-HSC–treated and PBS-treated mice in a blinded fashion by an independent observer. To standardize cell counts, areas of visual fields at corresponding coronal levels were predefined by stereotactic coordinates. Data are given as number of IB4-positive or CD3-positive cells/mm2 (mean±SEM).

Real-Time Reverse-Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis of Cytokines and Chemokine Receptor Transcripts in Spleens
Spleens derived from Lin-HSC–treated or PBS-treated, ischemic, or nonischemic animals were collected 24 hours after cell injection. RNA was isolated using the RNeasy Mini Kit (Qiagen) and reverse-transcribed using SuperScript III Reverse Transcriptase (Invitrogen). Relative quantification by real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed (ABI Prism 5700 Sequence Detection System; Perkin Elmer). Values were normalized to GAPDH gene transcript levels.


*    Results
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
up arrowMaterials and Methods
*Results
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowReferences
 
Central Nervous System Entry of Lin-HSCs After Cerebral Ischemia
Transient focal cerebral ischemia was induced in adult C57BL/6 mice using the middle cerebral artery occlusion model. At 24 hours after reperfusion, animals received an intravenous injection of either 5x106 lineage-negative hematopoietic precursor and stem cells (Lin-HSCs) obtained from BM of adult GFP+ transgenic mice. Isolated Lin-HSCs were CD45+ and c-kit antigen-positive but lacked expression of blood lineage markers such as CD11b, TER119, Gr-1, B220, CD8, and CD4 (Figure 1A). GFP+ cells were detected at 48 and 72 hours after intravenous injection in the meninges, the perivascular areas, and the parenchyma of the ischemia-affected hemisphere (Figure 1B,C), as well as in peripheral organs such as spleen, lung, liver, and lymph nodes (data not shown). The number of GFP+ cells detected within the ischemic hemisphere increased significantly from 146±43 cells (mean±SEM; calculated as cells per hemisphere) at 48 hours to 798±335 cells at 72 hours after intravenous injection (Figure 1B). In total, {approx}0.02% of injected cells were estimated to migrate into the ischemic hemisphere at 72 hours after injection.


Figure 1513978
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Figure 1. A, Characterization of Lin-HSCs by flow cytometry. Analysis of BM cells and Lin-HSCs was performed with specific antibodies directed against CD11b, TER-119, Gr-1, B220, CD8, CD4, CD45, and c-kit. Lin-HSCs showed no expression of specific lineage markers but were positive for c-kit and CD45. Isotype controls are shown in gray (closed histograms). Percentage of positive cells (mean±SD of 3 independent experiments) is indicated on the top right of each histogram. B, Detection of GFP+ Lin-HSCs within normal and ischemic brain hemispheres. The number of GFP+ cells within ischemic hemispheres increased from 48 to 72 hours after intravenous injection. No cell (ND indicates not detected) was observed in normal brains at 48 hours and very few cells were observed at 72 hours after intravenous injection. Data are presented as mean±SEM at 48 and 72 hours after Lin-HSC injection. Number of independent experiments for ischemic brains, n=4 for 48 hours and n=6 for 72 hours. Number of independent experiments for normal brains, n=3. C, Spatial distribution (parenchymal, perivascular, and meningeal) of GFP+ Lin-HSCs. The number of GFP+ cells within the parenchymal compartment increased between 48 and 72 hours after injection. Number of independent experiments, n=4 for 48 hours and n=6 for 72 hours. D, Morphometric analysis of GFP+ cells within ischemic hemispheres at 48 and 72 hours after injection. Cells were classified according to their morphology in "nonramified," "ramified," "spindle-like," or "atypical." The percentage of round, "nonramified" cells decreased, whereas "ramified," more differentiated cells increased between 48 and 72 hours. Number of independent experiments, n=4 for 48 hours and n=6 for 72 hours.

Systemically Applied Lin-HSCs Adopt a Microglia-like Phenotype Within the Central Nervous System
Morphological analysis of central nervous system-migrated Lin-HSCs was performed.25 At 72 hours after Lin-HSC injection, 34% of GFP+ cells expressed a "ramified" microglia-like phenotype (Figure 1D). Furthermore, GFP+ cells were found positive for microglia/macrophage markers (Figure 2A, B). In detail, 67±16% (mean±SEM) of GFP+ cells were stained with IB4, and 55±12% were positive for CD11b. GFP+ cells did not colocalize with double cortin or glial fibrillary acidic protein, suggesting a lack of early neuronal or astrocytic differentiation (Figure 2C). Additionally, GFP+/IB4 or GFP+/CD11b cells were found to be mononucleated, and their mean DNA index was 0.96±0.11 when compared to surrounding endogenous cells, demonstrating that GFP+ cells within the brain did not derive from fusion or phagocytic events.


Figure 2513978
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Figure 2. Differentiation of GFP+ within ischemic hemispheres and Lin-HSCs mediated neuroprotection. A and B, Representative confocal images showing colocalization of IB4 (A; red) and CD11b (B; red) with GFP (green), suggesting that Lin-HSCs adopt a microglia-like phenotype once in the ischemic tissue. Nuclei were counterstained with DAPI (blue). Scale bar: 10 µm. C, Quantification of markers found to be coexpressed in GFP+ cells that had migrated to ischemic hemispheres. Data are presented as mean±SEM; n=6 mice. Number of independent experiments, n=3. D, Representative images of cresyl violet-stained brain sections from Lin-HSC–treated (right series; n=6 mice) and PBS-treated (left series; n=7 mice) animals at 72 hours after intravenous injection of Lin-HSCs. E, Infarct volume analysis at 96 hours after a 45-minute transient cerebral ischemia and 72 hours after intravenous Lin-HSC injection or PBS injection. Infarct volumes are reduced in Lin-HSC–injected (26.8±4.6%; mean±SD; n=6 mice) compared to PBS-injected mice (49.3±4.9%; n=7 mice). Infarct volumes are presented as percentage of the contralateral, nonischemic hemisphere. *P<0.05; Student t test.

Reduced Infarct Volumes and Attenuated Neuronal Apoptosis in Lin-HSC–Treated Animals
Mice treated with Lin-HSCs showed smaller infarct volumes than did PBS-injected animals as determined at 72 hours after treatment (Figure 2D). In detail, infarct volumes were 49.3±4.9% (mean±SEM) of noninfarcted hemispheres in PBS–control mice, whereas infarct volumes were reduced to 26.8±4.6% of noninfarcted hemispheres in Lin-HSC–treated mice (Figure 2E). The number of TUNEL+ cells within the peri-infarct areas was significantly reduced from 1450±204 TUNEL+ cells/mm2 (mean±SEM) in PBS-treated to 955±27 TUNEL+ cells/mm2 in Lin-HSC–treated animals (Figure 3A–C). Double-labeling against the neuronal marker NeuN and activated Caspase-3 demonstrated that 97±3% (mean±SD) of apoptotic cells were of neuronal origin (Figure 3C). Thus, stem cell therapy by Lin-HSCs prevented neuronal apoptosis in the peri-infarct zone.


Figure 3513978
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Figure 3. Reduced number of apoptotic neuronal cell death at 72 hours after Lin-HSC treatment. A, TUNEL+ cells in ischemic hemispheres 72 hours after Lin-HSC or PBS injection. Scale bars: 50 µm. B, Quantification of TUNEL+ cells within the peri-infarct zone of Lin-HSC–treated animals (n=6 mice) and PBS controls (n=7 mice) 72 hours after intravenous injection. The number of apoptotic cells was deceased in Lin-HSC–injected compared to PBS-injected animals. Numbers are given as mean±SEM of TUNEL+ cells/mm2. *P<0.05, Student t test. C, Colocalization of activated Caspase-3–positive (red) and NeuN-positive (green) cells. Almost all activated Caspase-3–positive cells were positive for NeuN. Scale bar: 50 µm.

Lin-HSC Treatment Reduces Postischemic Inflammation
Histochemistry for the macrophage/microglial marker IB4 and the T-cell marker CD3 revealed a significant reduction in IB4+ and CD3+ cells in peri-infarct tissues of Lin-HSC–treated mice compared to PBS controls at 72 hours after treatment (Figure 4A-C). Lin-HSC treatment also resulted in reduced numbers of IB4+ cells (762±57 vs 972±84 cells/mm2 in PBS controls) at 48 hours and CD3+ cells (377±45 vs 467±68 cells/mm2 in PBS controls) at 24 hours after treatment; however, these differences were not statistically significant (Figure 4A–C).


Figure 4513978
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Figure 4. Reduced recruitment of immune cells to ischemic lesions after Lin-HSC treatment. A, Macrophages and microglia were identified by IB4 (red) staining within ischemic basal ganglia of Lin-HSC–treated and PBS-treated animals at 72 hours after injection. Nuclei were counterstained by DAPI (blue). Scale bars: 50 µm. B, Immigrated T cells were identified by CD3 (red) immunostaining within ischemic basal ganglia of Lin-HSC–treated and PBS-treated animals at 72 hours after injection. Nuclei were counterstained by DAPI (blue). Scale bars: 50 µm. C, Quantitative analysis of IB4-positive and CD3-positive cells in ischemic hemispheres. The numbers of IB4+ cells and CD3+ T cells were significantly reduced in Lin-HSC–treated compared to PBS-injected mice at 72 hours after injection. Data are presented as mean±SEM. Number of independent experiments, n=6 for 24 hours. Number of independent experiments, n=4 for 48 and 72 hours. *P<0.01, ANOVA followed by Bonferroni multiple comparison test.

Lin-HSCs Counter-Regulate Ischemia-Induced Inflammation in the Spleen
Reduced numbers of inflammatory IB4+ and CD3+ cells in ischemic hemispheres of Lin-HSC–treated mice were observed before detection of intravenously injected Lin-HSCs in the brain. To detect possible homing of Lin-HSCs to immune organs, analysis of spleens was performed. The GFP+ cells were already detected within the spleen at 24 hours after Lin-HSC injection at a density of 86±23 per cm2 (mean±SEM) for ischemic and 67±28 per cm2 for normal mice (Figure 5A, B). Analysis of ischemia-mediated effects on postischemic proinflammatory and chemokine receptor gene transcription profiles in the spleen revealed that relative gene transcript levels of tumor necrosis factor-{alpha} and IL-1β increased 30.3±16.9-times (mean±SEM) and 15.0±6.2-times (mean±SEM) at 48 hours after lesion onset, respectively (Figure 5C). Furthermore, chemokine receptor gene transcripts chemokine receptor 2 and CX3CR1 were upregulated at 48 hours after cerebral ischemia (Figure 5D). These ischemia-induced effects on proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine receptor levels within the spleen were counter-regulated by Lin-HSCs at 24 hours after intravenous injection. In detail, spleens obtained from Lin-HSC–treated mice showed significantly reduced relative gene transcript level of TNF-{alpha} from 30.3±16.9 to 4.6±1.2 (mean±SEM), of IL-1β from 15.0±6.2 (mean±SEM) to 3.3±1.1, of chemokine receptor 2 from 11.9±4.7 to 2.8±1.4, and of CX3CR1 from 10.3±3.8 to 3.7±1.9, respectively (Figure 5C, D).


Figure 5513978
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Figure 5. Antiinflammatory effect of Lin-HSCs in spleen. A, GFP+ cells were detected by confocal microscopy in spleen at 24 hours after injection in an ischemic mouse. GFP+ cells were counterstained by a CD45-specific antibody (red). Scale bar: 10 µm. B, Quantification of GFP+ cells in spleens 24 and 72 hours after HSC injection in normal (HSC; n=5 mice per time point) and ischemic mice (iHSC; n=3 mice per time point). Ischemic mice showed increased numbers of GFP+ HSCs at 72 hours after injection. Data are presented as mean±SEM. Number of independent experiments, n=3 for 24 and 72 hours. *P<0.05, Student t test. C, Real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis of proinflammatory cytokines in spleens 24 hours after Lin-HSC or PBS injection of normal (PBS or HSC) or ischemic mice (iPBS or iHSC). Treatment with Lin-HSCs counter-regulated cerebral ischemia-induced increase in gene transcripts of TNF-{alpha} and IL-1β. Data are presented as mean±SEM. Number of independent experiments, n=6. *P<0.05, ANOVA followed by Bonferroni multiple comparison test. D, Real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis of chemokine receptors in spleens 24 hours after Lin-HSC or PBS injection of normal (PBS or HSC) and ischemic mice (iPBS or iHSC). Cerebral ischemia induced upregulation of gene transcripts for chemokine receptors chemokine receptor 2 and CX3CR1. Treatment with Lin-HSCs counter-regulated cerebral ischemia-induced increase in gene transcripts for chemokine receptor 2 and CX3CR1. Data are presented as mean±SEM. Number of independent experiments, n=6. *P<0.05, ANOVA followed by Bonferroni multiple comparison test.


*    Discussion
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
up arrowMaterials and Methods
up arrowResults
*Discussion
down arrowReferences
 
In our study, central nervous system entry of GFP+ cells derived from BM occurred at 48 to 72 hours after systemic injection. Migration of BM-derived cells into the central nervous system after transplantation has been observed before.27,28 In contrast to our data, infiltration of BM-derived cells into ischemic brain parenchyma of irradiated mice occurred within 24 hours after onset of ischemia,22 possibly because of irradiation-induced alterations of the nervous tissue allowing this earlier attraction and central nervous system entry of BM-derived cells.

We only observed homing of GFP+ cells to the spleen within the first 24 hours after injection, which was in accordance with reports showing early and primary homing of hematopoietic progenitor and stem cells to BM and spleen after transplantation.29,30 Several BM transplantation approaches in injury models provided evidence of stem cell differentiation and fusion. Whereas transplantation of hematopoietic stem and precursor cells led to engraftment of microglia-like cell types within the healthy central nervous system,27,28 direct injection of selected (Sca-1+ Thy-1+ c-kit+) HSCs in a model of spinal cord injury resulted in cell expression of markers typical of astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and neural precursors.31 In our model of experimental cerebral ischemia, Lin-HSCs showed a macrophage or microglia-like phenotype after central nervous system entry at 72 hours after transplantation, and DNA-indices of GFP+ cells indicated absence of cell fusion events. However, transdifferentiation into neuronal or astrocytic cell types cannot be excluded to occur at later time points.

Therapy by Lin-HSCs acted neuroprotectively and reduced the infarct size. To understand whether Lin-HSCs mediated changes in the cerebral growth factor, micromilieu might be responsible for the observed neuroprotection we performed in vitro in gene transcript analysis of neurotrophic factors (brain-derived neurotrophic factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, glial-derived neurotrophic factor, nerve growth factor, neurotrophin-3, vascular endothelial growth factor, and transforming growth factor-β) and cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-{alpha}, interferon-{gamma}, IL-1β) of Lin-HSCs before injection. However, we were not able to detect substantial gene transcript levels of trophic factors in Lin-HSCs in vitro (data not shown). Furthermore, gene transcript analysis of these neurotrophic factors and cytokines within GFP+ cell-containing ischemic hemispheres did not reveal any significant changes at 72 hours after Lin-HSC injection (data not shown). Therefore, a local stem cell-mediated trophic factor support could not be detected in our experiments.

Several reports described a contribution of inflammation to cerebral injury in animal models of cerebral ischemia.32–34 Activated microglia and macrophages were increased at 24 hours, T cells were increased at 72 hours, and neutrophils were increased up to 96 hours after ischemia.35 We observed that Lin-HSC therapy reduced the immune cell invasion, particularly T cells and macrophages, of the peri-infarcted areas.

It is known that T cells and monocytes are activated and then recruited from the spleen to the ischemic lesion. In accordance with Offner et al,36 our data show that proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine receptor gene transcription was induced in the spleen soon after transient cerebral ischemia. Interestingly, Lin-HSCs counter-regulated the upregulation of proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine receptor gene transcripts in the spleen, thus preventing the activation of immune gene transcripts in splenocytes. Recently, it was shown that human umbilical cord blood cells prevented CD8+ lymphocyte mobilization from the spleen and had antiapoptotic effects,37,38 supporting the idea that the reduced infiltration of T cells and monocytes of the ischemic cerebral tissue is a consequence of a decreased number of cells entering the blood circulation from the spleen. In addition, chemokine receptor 2-deficient mice showed reduced infarct size accompanied by reduced immune cell infiltration in experimental cerebral ischemia.39

In summary, we demonstrate that intravenous injected Lin-HSCs attenuate the peripheral postischemic immune response, reduce immune cell infiltration into ischemic hemispheres, and mediate neuroprotection in the subacute phase after ischemic stroke.


*    Acknowledgments
 
The authors thank Barbara Müller for excellent technical assistance. The authors thank Dr Andras Bilkei-Gorzo for statistical advice.

Sources of Funding

The Cerebral Ischemia Research Group, Department of Neurology at the University of Göttingen Medical School, is supported by the BMBF. The Neuroimmunology Group at the European Neuroscience Institute Göttingen was supported by the University Göttingen, the Hertie-Foundation (IMSF), and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. The Neural Regeneration Group at the University Bonn LIFE & BRAIN Center is supported by the Hertie-Foundation, the Walter-und-Ilse-Rose-Foundation, the DFG (SFB704), and the EU (LSHM-CT-2005-018637).

Disclosures

None.


*    Footnotes
 
J.W. and H.N. contributed equally to this article. S.S. and S.L. contributed equally to this article.

Received January 3, 2008; revision received February 14, 2008; accepted February 19, 2008.


*    References
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
up arrowMaterials and Methods
up arrowResults
up arrowDiscussion
*References
 
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