Anti-inflammatory and Anti-apoptotic Effect of Combined Treatment with Methylprednisolone and Amniotic Membrane Mesenchymal Stem Cells After Spinal Cord Injury in Rats

This study was undertaken to investigate the synergistic effects of methylprednisolone (MP) administration and transplantation of amniotic membrane mesenchymal stem cells (AM-MSCs) following T11 spinal cord clip compressive injury in rats. The combination treatment with MP (50 mg/kg) and delayed transplantation of AM-MSCs after rat spinal cord injury, significantly reduced (1) myeloperoxidase activity, (2) the proinflammatory cytokines: tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, IL-17, interferon-gamma and (3) the cell apoptosis [terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase, dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining, and caspase-3, Bax and Bcl-2 expressions]; increased: (1) the levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10 and transforming growth factor-beta 1) and (2) the survival rate of AM-MSCs in the injury site. The combination therapy significantly ameliorated the recovery of limb function (evaluated by Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan score). Taken together, our results demonstrate that MP in combination with AM-MSCs transplantation is a potential strategy for reducing secondary damage and promoting functional recovery following spinal cord injury.