Dedifferentiation-reprogrammed mesenchymal stem cells for neonates with hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury
FY Yang1,2, XH Zhang1,2,3, LL Tsang1,2, HC Chan1,2,3,4, XH Jiang1,2,4
1 Epithelial Cell Biology Research Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
2 School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
3 Sichuan University-The Chinese University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Chengdu, China
4 The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
 
 
1. Human umbilical cord–derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) can be manipulated via neuronal differentiation and dedifferentiation in vitro.
2. Compared with naïve hUC-MSCs, dedifferentiated hUC-MSCs reveal distinguished stem cell phenotype such as enhanced cell survival, neuronal differentiation potential, and cell migration.
3. Local administration of hUC-MSCs or dedifferentiated hUC-MSCs significantly improves brain functional recovery in hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy rat model.
4. Compared with hUC-MSC, dedifferentiated hUC-MSCs exhibit stronger repair function, as demonstrated by more improved motor, learning, and memory abilities.
5. The enhanced therapeutic effects of dedifferentiated hUC-MSCs are attributed to enhanced neural protection and promotion of endogenous repair.