Effect of stem cells-based therapy on astrogliosis in stroke subjected-mice

This study was planned to continue our previous study to assess effect of combination therapy bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) with exercise (EX) and triiodothyronine (T₃) on stroke-induced astrogliosis in mice. Stroke subjected-mice were divided into five monotherapy groups including sham, control, BMSCs, EX and T₃; and three combination therapy groups including BMSCs + EX, BMSCs + T₃ and BMSCs + EX + T₃. Astrogliosis was assessed in ipsilateral hemisphere at day 7 after MCAO. Combination therapy BMSCs with EX and T₃ could significantly decrease stroke-induced astrogliosis. However, monotherapy with BMSCs or EX also improved changes of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive cells following stroke. Combination therapy BMSCs with EX and T₃ didn't have any added effect on astrogliosis compared to monotherapy with BMSCs or EX. With comparing the present findings with the results of neurobehavioral functioning in our earlier study, it seems that decrease of astrogliosis could be helpful for stroke recovery.