Reducing macrophages to improve bone marrow stromal cell survival in the contused spinal cord

We tested whether reducing macrophage infiltration would improve the survival of allogeneic bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) transplanted in the contused adult rat thoracic spinal cord. Treatment with cyclosporine, minocycline, or methylprednisolone all resulted in a significant decrease in macrophage infiltration at 3 days postinjury. However, when BMSC were injected at that time point survival 7 days later was similar between treatment groups and saline-injected controls. In fact we found that the presence of BMSC resulted in a significant increase in macrophage infiltration into the contusion. NeuroReport 21:221-226 (C) 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.