Combination use of human menstrual blood stem cell- derived exosomes and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, synergistically promote recovery after spinal cord injury in rats

Ahmed Hjazi; Abdullah Alghamdi; Ghfren S Aloraini; Mohammed A Alshehri; Meshari A Alsuwat; Abdullah Albelasi; Reham M Mashat; Mohammed Alissa

doi:10.1016/j.tice.2024.102378

Combination use of human menstrual blood stem cell- derived exosomes and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, synergistically promote recovery after spinal cord injury in rats

Tissue Cell. 2024 Apr 16:88:102378. doi: 10.1016/j.tice.2024.102378. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Ahmed Hjazi¹, Abdullah Alghamdi¹, Ghfren S Aloraini¹, Mohammed A Alshehri¹, Meshari A Alsuwat², Abdullah Albelasi³, Reham M Mashat⁴, Mohammed Alissa⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medical Laboratory, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia.
² Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif 21974, Saudi Arabia.
³ Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Shaqra University, Shaqra 11961, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Nutrition and Food Sciences, College of Home Economics, King Khalid University, Abha 62529, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ Department of Medical Laboratory, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: m.alissa@psau.edu.sa.

PMID: 38663114
DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2024.102378

Abstract

Traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) is one of the catastrophic events in the nervous system that leads to the loss of sensory and motor function of the spinal cord at the site of injury. Considering that several factors such as apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress play a role in the spread of damage caused by trauma, therefore, the treatment should also be based on multifactorial approaches. Currently, we investigated the effects of human menstrual blood stem cells (MenSCs)-derived exosomes in combination with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in the recovery of TSCI in rats. Ninety male mature Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were planned into five equal groups, including; control group, TSCI group, Exo group (underwent TSCI and received MenSCs -derived exosomes), HBOT group (underwent TSCI and received HBOT), and Exo+HBOT group (underwent TSCI and received MenSCs -derived exosomes plus HBOT). After the behavioral evaluation, tissue samples were obtained for stereological, immunohistochemical, biochemical, and molecular assessments. Our results showed that the numerical density of neurons, the concentrations of antioxidative biomarkers (CAT, GSH, and SOD), and neurological function scores were significantly greater in the treatments group than in the TSCI group, and these changes were more obvious in the Exo+HBOT ones (P<0.05). This is while the numerical densities of apoptotic cells and glial cells, the levels of an oxidative factor (MDA) and proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α) were considerably decreased in the treatment groups, specially the Exo+HBOT group, compared to the TSCI group (P<0.05). We conclude that the co-administration of exosomes derived from MenSCs and HBOT has more neuroprotective effects in animals with TSCI.

Keywords: Exosomes; Hyperbaric oxygen therapy; Menstrual blood; Mesenchymal stem cells; Spinal cord injury.