Neuro-Cells therapy improves motor outcomes and suppresses inflammation during experimental syndrome of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in mice

Aims Mutations in DNA/RNA-binding factor (fused-in-sarcoma) FUS and superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD-1) cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). They were reproduced in SOD-1-G93A (SOD-1) and new FUS[1-359]-transgenic (FUS-tg) mice, where inflammation contributes to disease progression. The effects of standard disease therapy and anti-inflammatory treatments were investigated using these mutants. Methods FUS-tg mice or controls received either vehicle, or standard ALS treatment riluzole (8 mg/kg/day), or anti-inflammatory drug a selective blocker of cyclooxygenase-2 celecoxib (30 mg/kg/day) for six weeks, or a single intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) infusion of Neuro-Cells (a preparation of 1.39 x 10(6) mesenchymal and hemopoietic human stem cells, containing 5 x 10(5) of CD34(+) cells), which showed anti-inflammatory properties. SOD-1 mice received i.c.v.-administration of Neuro-Cells or vehicle. Results All FUS-tg-treated animals displayed less marked reductions in weight gain, food/water intake, and motor deficits than FUS-tg-vehicle-treated mice. Neuro-Cell-treated mutants had reduced muscle atrophy and lumbar motor neuron degeneration. This group but not celecoxib-FUS-tg-treated mice had ameliorated motor performance and lumbar expression of microglial activation marker, ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule-1 (Iba-1), and glycogen-synthase-kinase-3 ss (GSK-3 ss). The Neuro-Cells-treated-SOD-1 mice showed better motor functions than vehicle-treated-SOD-1 group. Conclusion The neuropathology in FUS-tg mice is sensitive to standard ALS treatments and Neuro-Cells infusion. The latter improves motor outcomes in two ALS models possibly by suppressing microglial activation.