Umbilical cord blood CD34(+) cells administration improved neurobehavioral status and alleviated brain injury in a mouse model of cerebral palsy

PURPOSE: Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common neuromuscular disease in children, and currently, there is no cure. Several studies have reported the benefits of umbilical cord blood (UCB) cell treatment for CP. However, these studies either examined the effects of UCB cell fraction with a short experimental period or used neonatal rat models for a long-term study which displayed an insufficient immunological reaction and clearance of human stem cells. Here, we developed a CP model by hypoxia-ischemic injury (HI) using immunodeficient mice and examined the effects of human UCB CD34(+) hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) on CP therapy over a period of 8 weeks. METHODS: Sixty postnatal day-9 (P9) mouse pups were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 15/group) as follows: (1) sham operation (control group), (2) HI-induced CP model, (3) CP model with CD34(+) HSC transplantation, and (4) CP model with CD34(-) cell transplantation. Eight weeks after insult, the sensorimotor performance was analyzed by rotarod treadmill, gait dynamic, and open field assays. The pathological changes in brain tissue of mice were determined by HE staining, Nissl staining, and MBP immunohistochemistry of the hippocampus in the mice. RESULTS: HI brain injury in mice pups resulted in significant behavioral deficits and loss of neurons. Both CD34(+) HSCs and CD34(-) cells improved the neurobehavioral statuses and alleviated the pathological brain injury. In comparison with CD34(-) cells, the CD34(+) HSC compartments were more effective. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that CD34(+) HSC transplantation was neuroprotective in neonatal mice and could be an effective therapy for CP.