Transplantation of neural stem cells induced by all-transretinoic acid combined with nerve growth factor for repairing spinal cord injury in rats

The effects of neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation on repair in spinal cord injury are not ideal. All-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) can promote nerve regeneration and repair, and has been observed to act as a mediator of inflammation-induced sensitization. Its potential therapeutic use in spinal cord injury is therefore of great interest, but its effects on neuroinflammation need to be identified. Previous studies have confirmed that the differentiation ratio of neurons from NSCs in vitro increases with ATRA intervention. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is one of the most important nerve growth regulators in the nervous system, and is characterized by its dual biological functions of facilitating neuron nutrition and protruding growth. It has important clinical significance for the development, differentiation, growth, and expression of functional properties of neurons, as well as the regeneration and repair of injured nerves. In this study, we observed the effects of transplanting NSCs induced by ATRA combined with NGF on the neurological functional recovery of injured spinal cords in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. The rats were transplanted with or without NSCs combined with or without NGF at 7 days after induction of SCI, and functional recovery was evaluated following the operation. Results showed that the transplantation of NSCs induced by ATRA promoted the functional recovery of spinal cord injury, and when combined with NGF, a significant effect was observed. This study provides a basis for the development of potential therapies combining ATRA and NGF to promote the proliferation and survival of neurons in the CNS environment.