Neurological, functional, and quality of life outcomes following combined mesenchymal stem cell and Schwann cell therapy in spinal cord injury: a 9-year experience

Abstract Background Spinal cord injury (SCI) often results in severe disabilities and significant socioeconomic burdens. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the effects and safety of co-transplantation of autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and Schwann cells (SCs) via the...

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Main Authors: Mohammadhosein Akhlaghpasand, Roozbeh Tavanaei, Maede Hosseinpoor, Maryam Golmohammadi, Ida Mohammadi, Amir Ghaffari Jolfayi, Melika Hosseinpour, Bardia Hajikarimloo, Kaveh Oraii Yazdani, Alireza Zali, Saeed Oraee-Yazdani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:Stem Cell Research & Therapy
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-025-04312-7
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author Mohammadhosein Akhlaghpasand
Roozbeh Tavanaei
Maede Hosseinpoor
Maryam Golmohammadi
Ida Mohammadi
Amir Ghaffari Jolfayi
Melika Hosseinpour
Bardia Hajikarimloo
Kaveh Oraii Yazdani
Alireza Zali
Saeed Oraee-Yazdani
author_facet Mohammadhosein Akhlaghpasand
Roozbeh Tavanaei
Maede Hosseinpoor
Maryam Golmohammadi
Ida Mohammadi
Amir Ghaffari Jolfayi
Melika Hosseinpour
Bardia Hajikarimloo
Kaveh Oraii Yazdani
Alireza Zali
Saeed Oraee-Yazdani
author_sort Mohammadhosein Akhlaghpasand
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Spinal cord injury (SCI) often results in severe disabilities and significant socioeconomic burdens. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the effects and safety of co-transplantation of autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and Schwann cells (SCs) via the intrathecal route in patients with complete spinal cord injury (SCI). The analysis focused on the therapy’s impact across various SCI subgroups (cervical vs. thoracolumbar, subacute vs. chronic) and the factors influencing its efficacy. Methods This case series evaluated 106 patients with complete SCI treated with combined cell therapy between August 2013 and September 2022, with a one-year follow-up. Safety profiles were assessed, and neurological and functional outcomes were measured using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scores, Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM-III), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) at 6- and 12-month intervals post-injection. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to evaluate factors associated with outcomes. Results Significant improvements were observed in ASIA scores (motor, light touch, and pinprick), SCIM-III scores (total and subscales), and WHOQOL-BREF scores after 12 months. These improvements were consistent across subgroups, regardless of injury level or duration. Multiple regression analysis indicated that improvements in ASIA motor scores were associated with injury level, while improvements in SCIM-III total and mobility scores were associated with time since injury and patient age. Conclusions This study demonstrates significant neurological, functional, and quality of life improvements following combined cell therapy with autologous MSCs and SCs in patients with complete SCI. Future research should investigate potential synergies with other therapies and conduct comparative efficacy analyses.
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spelling doaj-art-76fb5e53e6f24d98badfc953e67f2c4a2025-08-20T02:15:11ZengBMCStem Cell Research & Therapy1757-65122025-05-0116111210.1186/s13287-025-04312-7Neurological, functional, and quality of life outcomes following combined mesenchymal stem cell and Schwann cell therapy in spinal cord injury: a 9-year experienceMohammadhosein Akhlaghpasand0Roozbeh Tavanaei1Maede Hosseinpoor2Maryam Golmohammadi3Ida Mohammadi4Amir Ghaffari Jolfayi5Melika Hosseinpour6Bardia Hajikarimloo7Kaveh Oraii Yazdani8Alireza Zali9Saeed Oraee-Yazdani10Functional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shohada Tajrish Comprehensive Neurosurgical Center of Excellence, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesFunctional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shohada Tajrish Comprehensive Neurosurgical Center of Excellence, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesFunctional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shohada Tajrish Comprehensive Neurosurgical Center of Excellence, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesFunctional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shohada Tajrish Comprehensive Neurosurgical Center of Excellence, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesFunctional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shohada Tajrish Comprehensive Neurosurgical Center of Excellence, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesFunctional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shohada Tajrish Comprehensive Neurosurgical Center of Excellence, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesFunctional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shohada Tajrish Comprehensive Neurosurgical Center of Excellence, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesFunctional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shohada Tajrish Comprehensive Neurosurgical Center of Excellence, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesFunctional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shohada Tajrish Comprehensive Neurosurgical Center of Excellence, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesFunctional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shohada Tajrish Comprehensive Neurosurgical Center of Excellence, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesFunctional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shohada Tajrish Comprehensive Neurosurgical Center of Excellence, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background Spinal cord injury (SCI) often results in severe disabilities and significant socioeconomic burdens. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the effects and safety of co-transplantation of autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and Schwann cells (SCs) via the intrathecal route in patients with complete spinal cord injury (SCI). The analysis focused on the therapy’s impact across various SCI subgroups (cervical vs. thoracolumbar, subacute vs. chronic) and the factors influencing its efficacy. Methods This case series evaluated 106 patients with complete SCI treated with combined cell therapy between August 2013 and September 2022, with a one-year follow-up. Safety profiles were assessed, and neurological and functional outcomes were measured using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scores, Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM-III), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) at 6- and 12-month intervals post-injection. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to evaluate factors associated with outcomes. Results Significant improvements were observed in ASIA scores (motor, light touch, and pinprick), SCIM-III scores (total and subscales), and WHOQOL-BREF scores after 12 months. These improvements were consistent across subgroups, regardless of injury level or duration. Multiple regression analysis indicated that improvements in ASIA motor scores were associated with injury level, while improvements in SCIM-III total and mobility scores were associated with time since injury and patient age. Conclusions This study demonstrates significant neurological, functional, and quality of life improvements following combined cell therapy with autologous MSCs and SCs in patients with complete SCI. Future research should investigate potential synergies with other therapies and conduct comparative efficacy analyses.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-025-04312-7Spinal cord injuryStem cell therapySchwann cellMesenchymal stem cell
spellingShingle Mohammadhosein Akhlaghpasand
Roozbeh Tavanaei
Maede Hosseinpoor
Maryam Golmohammadi
Ida Mohammadi
Amir Ghaffari Jolfayi
Melika Hosseinpour
Bardia Hajikarimloo
Kaveh Oraii Yazdani
Alireza Zali
Saeed Oraee-Yazdani
Neurological, functional, and quality of life outcomes following combined mesenchymal stem cell and Schwann cell therapy in spinal cord injury: a 9-year experience
Stem Cell Research & Therapy
Spinal cord injury
Stem cell therapy
Schwann cell
Mesenchymal stem cell
title Neurological, functional, and quality of life outcomes following combined mesenchymal stem cell and Schwann cell therapy in spinal cord injury: a 9-year experience
title_full Neurological, functional, and quality of life outcomes following combined mesenchymal stem cell and Schwann cell therapy in spinal cord injury: a 9-year experience
title_fullStr Neurological, functional, and quality of life outcomes following combined mesenchymal stem cell and Schwann cell therapy in spinal cord injury: a 9-year experience
title_full_unstemmed Neurological, functional, and quality of life outcomes following combined mesenchymal stem cell and Schwann cell therapy in spinal cord injury: a 9-year experience
title_short Neurological, functional, and quality of life outcomes following combined mesenchymal stem cell and Schwann cell therapy in spinal cord injury: a 9-year experience
title_sort neurological functional and quality of life outcomes following combined mesenchymal stem cell and schwann cell therapy in spinal cord injury a 9 year experience
topic Spinal cord injury
Stem cell therapy
Schwann cell
Mesenchymal stem cell
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-025-04312-7
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