Abstract 2622: Human Placental Derived Adherent Cells (PDA001) Treatment Induces Angiogenesis, Synaptogenesis And Improves Functional Outcome After Stroke

Background and purpose: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) show promising therapeutic potential in myocardial, limb, and brain ischemia. Human Placenta-derived Cells (PDA001) is a novel cell population derived from normal, full-term human placental tissue and a rich source of MSC like cells. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of PDA001 cells in a rat stroke model. Methods: Adult male Wistar rats were subjected to 2 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) and treated with or without different doses of PDA001 cells (1x10 6 , 4x10 6 and 8x10 6 ) at 24 h after MCAo. A battery of functional outcome tests was performed prior to PDA001 cell therapy and at days 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, and 56 after MCAo. Rats were sacrificed at 56 days after MCAo and lesion volumes were measured. The optimal dose of PDA001 cell treatment of stroke was chosen for bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU),Von Willebrand Factor (vWF), and Synaptophysin immunostaining. Results: PDA001 cell treatment dose-dependently improves functional outcome compared to dermal fibroblast cells (FBC-control) and Dextran vehicle control. PDA001 cell treatment significantly increased the number of BrdU immunoreactive endothelial cells as well as the vascular density and perimeter in the ischemic brain compared with the FBC-control and Dextran control groups (p Conclusion: PDA001 cell treatment of stroke dose-dependently improves functional outcome in stroke in rats. The neurorestorative effects induced by PDA001 cell treatment may relate to the increase of angiogenesis and synaptic plasticity.