Mesenchymal stem cells in dogs with demyelinating leukoencephalitis as an experimental model of multiple sclerosis

• Autor(a) principal: Pinheiro, Luane Lopes
• Data de Publicação: 2019
• Outros Autores: Lima, Ana Rita de, Martins, Danielli Martinelli, Oliveira, Edivaldo Herculano Correa de, Souza, Michel Platini Caldas de, Miranda, Carla Maria Figueiredo de Carvalho, Beltrão-Braga, Patrícia Cristina Baleeiro, Russo, Fabiele Baldino, Pignatari, Graciela Conceição, Silva filho, Ednaldo da, Branco, Érika
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Digital do Instituto Evandro Chagas (Patuá)
• Texto Completo: https://patua.iec.gov.br/handle/iec/3795
• topic: Biologia Celular; Neurociências; Esclerose Múltipla / patologia; Células-Tronco Mesenquimais / citologia; Sistema Nervoso Central; Cinomose; Cães

Researchers have used dogs with neurological sequelae caused by distemper as an experimental model for multiple sclerosis, owing to the similarities of the neuropathological changes between distemper virus-induced demyelinating leukoencephalitis and multiple sclerosis in humans. However, little is known about the role of mesenchymal stem cells in treating such clinical conditions. Therefore, we investigated the use of mesenchymal stem cells in four dogs with neurological lesions caused by the distemper virus. During the first year after cellular therapy, the animals did not demonstrate significant changes in their locomotive abilities. However, the intense (Grade V) myoclonus in three animals was reduced to a moderate (Grade IV) level. At one year after the mesenchymal stem cell infusions, three animals regained functional ambulation (Grade I), and all four dogs started to move independently (Grades I and II). In two animals, the myoclonic severity had become mild (Grade III). It was concluded that the use of mesenchymal stem cells could improve the quality of life of dogs with neurological sequelae caused by canine distemper, thus presenting hope for similar positive results in human patients with multiple sclerosis.