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Exercise combined with administration of adipose-derived stem cells ameliorates neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury

Neural Regeneration Research, 2023 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/1673-5374.361533 · Published: November 25, 2022

Spinal Cord InjuryRegenerative MedicinePain Management

Simple Explanation

This study investigates the potential of combining exercise with adipose-derived stem cell (ADSC) therapy to alleviate neuropathic pain (NP) following spinal cord injury (SCI). The research aims to determine if this combined approach yields better outcomes than either treatment alone. The researchers used a mouse model of SCI to assess motor function and pain-related behaviors. They transplanted ADSCs into the injured spinal cord and initiated exercise training in the mice. Behavioral tests and histological studies were then conducted to evaluate the effects of the treatments. The findings suggest that combining exercise with ADSC administration could be a promising strategy for promoting motor function recovery and reducing neuropathic pain after SCI. The combined approach showed superior results compared to exercise or ADSC therapy alone.

Study Duration
28 days
Participants
95 adult female C57BL/6 mice
Evidence Level
Not specified

Key Findings

  • 1
    Exercise combined with ADSC administration partially improved early motor function recovery after SCI.
  • 2
    The combined treatment ameliorated mechanical allodynia, mechanical hypoalgesia, thermal hyperalgesia, and thermal hypoalgesia in SCI mice.
  • 3
    ADSC administration reduced white and gray matter loss at the lesion site, indicating a neuroprotective effect.

Research Summary

The study investigated the effects of exercise combined with adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) on neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury (SCI) in a mouse model. The results demonstrated that the combined treatment of exercise and ADSC administration improved early motor function recovery and alleviated SCI-induced neuropathic pain more effectively than either treatment alone. The study also found that ADSCs had a neuroprotective effect, reducing tissue loss at the injury site, and that the combined treatment decreased the expression of Iba1 and GFAP, markers of inflammation, in the spinal cord.

Practical Implications

Therapeutic Strategy

The combination of exercise and ADSC administration may be a promising therapeutic strategy for ameliorating neuropathic pain in patients with SCI.

Neuroprotection

ADSC administration can provide neuroprotection by reducing tissue loss at the injury site after SCI.

Inflammation Modulation

The combined treatment can modulate inflammation in the spinal cord, potentially contributing to pain relief and improved motor function.

Study Limitations

  • 1
    The molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of ADSCs and exercise on SCI-induced NP were not investigated in detail.
  • 2
    Microglia and astrocyte activation in the L4–L6 DRGs was not investigated.
  • 3
    Iba1 and GFAP expression levels were only detected at the end of the experiment (28 dpi).

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