A pilot study of the directional migration of bone marrow-derived stem cells towards glioma in adult rats

Objective To study the directional migration of bone rnarrow-derived stenl cells (BMSCs)towards the glioma and the distribution of tbe migrated BMSCs in the brain. Methods In vitro cultured BMSCs isolated from the bone marrow of male Wistar rats were identified using immunofluorescence technique. and their stem cell properties wcrc assessed by means of induced differentiation in vitro into adipocytes and osteoblasts.Wistar rat models bearing glioma were established by stereotactic injection of C6 glioma cells into the basal ganglia,and 7 days later.Brdu-labeled BMSCs werc injected stereotaetically into the contralateral hemisphere or the contralateral ventricle, or intravenously via the tail vein.The rats were sacrificed 14 days afterthe BMSC injection,and coronal paraffin sections(5 μm thick)of the brain tissue were prepared.HE staining was used to observe the extent of intracranial glioma growth,and the distribution of the BMSCs in the glioma tissue as well as in the brain tissue was identified With immunofluorescent staining. ResuIts The BMSCs implanted into either the contrahteral hemisphere or the contralateral ventricle were found to migrate towards the glioma mostly along the needle tract,and distinct green fluorescence emitted by the labeled BMSCs Was detected on the boundary between the glioma and the normal brain tissue.A few fluorescent BMSCs were also seen around the glioma tissue after intravenous injection of the cells. Conclusion BMSCs injected into the cerebral parenchyma,contralateral ventricle,or the tail vein are capable of directional migration into the glioma tissue,suggesting their potential as a new vehicle for delivering therapeutic genes into the glioma tissue. Key words: Glioma; Bone nlarrow stem cells; Migrating