Transplantation of human dental pulp stem cells compensates for striatal atrophy and modulates neuro-inflammation in 3-nitropropionic acid rat model of Huntington's disease.

[Display omitted] • Transplantation of DPSCs improved motor skills and muscle activity in rat brain lesion. • Transplantation of DPSCs prevented the atrophy of the striatum. • Transplantation of DPSCs impeded gliosis and microgliosis in rats. • Transplantation of DPSC downregulated Caspase-3 in brain lesion. • Transplantation of DPSCs decreased the expression of inflammatory cytokines, TNF and IL-1β, at mRNA level. Stem cell-based therapy has recently offered a promising alternative for the remedy of neurodegenerative disorders like Huntington's disease (HD). Herein, we investigated the potential ameliorative effects of implantation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) in 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) rat models of HD. In this regard, human DPSCs were isolated, culture-expanded and implanted in rats lesioned with 3-NP. Post-transplantation examinations revealed that DPSCs were able to survive and augment motor skills and muscle activity. Histological analysis showed DPSCs treatment hampered the shrinkage of the striatum along with the inhibition of gliosis and microgliosis in the striatum of 3-NP rat models. We also detected the downregulation of Caspase-3 and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF and IL-1β upon DPSCs grafting. Overall, these findings imply that the grafting of DPSCs could repair motor-skill impairment and induce neurogenesis, probably through the secretion of neurotrophic factors and the modulation of neuroinflammatory response in HD animal models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]