Autologous mesenchymal stem cell endografting in experimental cerebrovascular aneurysms

Coiling is the gold standard for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. However, some issues associated with endovascular treatment limit its long-term efficiency. Recanalization with coil compaction is certainly the most important. New approaches may be considered to promote thrombus colonization by mesenchymal cells and aneurysm healing. In the present study, we have percutaneously delivered autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) to an elastase-induced rabbit carotid aneurysm model in vivo.

Autologous mesenchymatous stem cells were obtained after femoral puncture and bone marrow aspiration. After 2 weeks of in vitro cell culture, five million BMSCs were grafted in the carotid aneurysm using an endovascular approach.

We demonstrated the feasibility of in vivo percutaneous seeding of autologous BMSCs in the aneurysm by positive Hoechst fluorostaining. Two weeks later, conventional angiography showed an increase in median aneurysmal surface in the sham group, whereas this surface was decreased in the group treated with BMSCs, +28.4 versus -26.4 %, respectively (p = 0.01). BMSC seeding resulted in intimal hyperplasia with cell colonization and disappearance of the thrombus.

In conclusion, percutaneous seeding of BMSCs may colonize and heal the arterial wall thus limiting aneurysm expansion.