Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant cause of death/disability in military and civilian populations. Cell therapy with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) shows promise for TBI treatment. Not all MSCs are equivalent, thus further work is needed to define optimal MSC products to minimize risk and maximize benefit. Here we proposed to establish a panel of assays to evaluate safety and potency of cell therapy products prior to administration. MSCs with different assay profiles will be compared in preclinical testing. Maximal tolerated dose of MSCs will be determined in both uninjured and injured rats, and the distribution and retention of labeled cells following intravenous administration will be determined. MSC administration will be tested in rats subjected to TBI, and therapy impact will be measured using a combination of histological, functional and behavioral testing. Long term consequences of TBI are devastating, so treatments reducing damage are of tremendous importance.