Comparison of the Efficacy of Cord Blood Mononuclear Cells (MNCs) and CD34+ Cells for the Treatment of Neonatal Mice with Cerebral Palsy

To compare the efficacy of cord blood mononuclear cells (MNCs) and CD34+ cells for the treatment of neonatal mice models with cerebral palsy (CP). CP model in neonatal mice was established by the ligation of carotid artery. Mice were randomly designated into MNCs group, CD34+ group, model group and control group (30 mice per group). MNCs and CD34+ cells were isolated from human umbilical cord blood. MNCs were transplanted into mice in the MNCs group and CD34+ cells into mice in the CD34+ group through the jugular vein, respectively. The body weight, histopathology, apoptosis-related gene expression, learning and memory, and motor function of mice in the four groups were compared. Compared with control group, the body weight of mice in model group was significantly lower (P < 0.05). In addition, the right hemisphere was significantly liquefied and voids were found in model mice, in which degeneration and necrosis were found by HE staining. Real-time quantitative fluorescent PCR showed elevated levels of apoptosis-related gene expression and learning and memory function, and motor function were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in model mice. In the MNCs group and CD34+ group, the weight of mice was significantly increased compared with the model group (P < 0.05). Moreover, neither liquefaction and voids in the hemispheres of mice were found in these two groups, nor degeneration and necrosis of cell. Meanwhile, levels of apoptosis-related gene expression were significantly lower than that of the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the MNCs group, the expression of apoptotic gene TNF-α and CD40 was significantly lower (P < 0.05). Learning and memory function, and motor function of mice in the MNCs group and CD34+ group were significantly improved than the model group (P < 0.05), and the CD34+ group produced greater improvement than the MNCs group (P < 0.05). MNCs and CD34+ cells can reduce the degree of injury in the neonatal mice with CP. In addition, treatment with MNCs and CD34+ cells suppressed apoptotic gene expression and restored memory and motor function. The efficacy of CD34+ cells after separation and purification was more significant for the treatment of mice with CP.