Human Umbilical Cord Blood Cells Rescue TBI-induced Cardiac And Neurological Deficits

Background and purpose: Traumatic brain injury(TBI)evokes not only neurological deficit but also induces cardiac dysfunction.Human umbilical cord blood cells(HUCBCs)treatment offers a potential therapeutic strategy for TBI-induced neurological deficit.This present study is undertaken to determine whether HUCBCs could ameliorate cardiac dysfunction and neurological deficit induced by TBI.Methods: Adult male C57BL/6J mice were subjected to the controlled cortical impact(CCI)-induced TBI model and treated with HUCBCs(1x106)or saline via tail vine 3 days after TBI.Neurological and cognitive function were evaluated subsequently on different time points after TBI.The assessment of cardiac function was conducted by echocardiography at 3-day post TBI(before treatment)and 30-day post TBI.Pathological staining and immunostaining were performed on day 30 following TBI.Results: TBI elicited acute and chronic cardiac deficit identified by decreased left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)and fractional shortening(FS)on day 3 and day 30 after TBI,as well as neurological cognitive deficit.TBI mice treated with HUCBCs exhibited markedly enhanced LVEF and FS at 30-day following TBI compared to TBI control.HUCBCs treatment not only significantly improved neurological and cognitive functional outcomes,but also exhibited markedly reduced cardiomyocyte apoptosis,inflammation and oxidative stress as well as cardiac fibrosis in the heart at 30 days after TBI.Conclusions: TBI induces neurological deficit and cardiac dysfunction.HUCBCs treatment ameliorated TBI-induced neurological and cardiac dysfunction.The antiinflammation of HUCBCs may contribute to the therapeutic effects on TBI induced neurological deficit and cardiac dysfunction.