Effects of mesenchymal stem cells infusion on neuromuscular system in a model of diabetic neuropathy

• Grant number: 12/51783-2
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: April 01, 2013 - September 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal researcher: Ângela Merice de Oliveira Leal
• Grantee: Ângela Merice de Oliveira Leal
• Home Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major public health problem due to the high prevalence, and diabetic neuropathy (DN) is the most common chronic complication. Hyperglycemia damages neurons, leading to a sensorimotor disorder. The stem cell therapy is an attractive strategy for various complications of diabetes, among them ND, since they have the capacity to differentiate into other cell types and tissues, including muscle, and the ability to modulate the neurotrophic factors to the nerves. However, mechanistically, this process is poorly understood. The hypothesis of this study is that treatment with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) reduces atrophy and loss of muscle mass, improving neuromuscular interaction. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of injection of mesenchymal stem cells on neuromuscular function, morphology and morphometry of nerve and muscle fibers and the expression of genes and proteins associated with muscle atrophy. Is used experimental model of diabetes induced by streptozotocin (STZ, 50mg/kg body weight). The animals will be divided into groups with diabetes (treated and non-treated with MSCs) and control. Treated animals will receive four weekly injections of MSCs (1x106 cells/injection) or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) intraperitoneal. Functional analysis will be performed by the march test track and nerve conduction (rheobase, chronaxie and accommodation) weekly. The collection of tissues (muscle and nerve) will be performed 4 weeks after the first injection for morphological and morphometric analysis of nerve and muscle, muscle quantification of gene expression (Atr-1, MuRF-1, myostatin) and protein expression (Atr-1, MuRF-1). (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

LUNA, GENOVEVA FLORES. Effects of mesenchymal stromal cells on type 1 diabetes mellitus rat muscles. MUSCLE & NERVE, v. 58, n. 4, p. 583-591, OCT 2018. Web of Science Citations: 1.