Researchers from the Kazan Federal University Institute of Basic Medicine and Biology, in collaboration with neurosurgical specialists from the Republican Clinical Hospital, have developed a technique aimed at aiding the recovery of spinal cord structure and function after injury. The details were released by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.
The approach centers on extracellular vesicles, tiny carriers that originate from cellular membranes and participate in a broad range of physiological processes. In this study, vesicles were isolated from porcine mesenchymal stem cells and prepared for therapeutic use.
According to Yana Mukhamedshina, the principal investigator of KFU’s OpenLab Gene and Cellular Technologies, extracellular vesicles were obtained from mesenchymal stem cells by treating them with cytochalasin B and applying a sequence of mechanical disruptions and filtration steps. The vesicles were characterized in detail, with size and ultrastructure assessed through transmission electron microscopy.
To evaluate the method’s potential, the team recreated a controlled contusion injury to the spinal cord at the eleventh thoracic level in a porcine model. This injury pattern mirrors severe clinical scenarios that arise from vertebral fracture and subsequent fragment encroachment into the spinal canal. The researchers also took into account the typical delay before surgical intervention, recognizing that patients may present with ongoing compression by bone fragments and hematoma during initial treatment decisions.
In the experimental protocol, animals received two vesicle injections: the first administered one week after injury and the second given three weeks later. The outcomes were compared with a control group that received saline injections.
Results indicated an increase in preserved neural tissue, with the area of intact tissue expanding by about 27 percent. Concurrently, the region hosting pathological changes behind the injury site showed a roughly 29 percent reduction in volume, particularly in segments most susceptible to secondary degeneration after trauma. These observations were made on the caudal side of the injury, where spinal cord deterioration tends to be most pronounced in this model.
The vesicle-treated group demonstrated a measurable improvement in motor function relative to the saline-treated cohort, representing a meaningful step forward in preclinical spinal cord injury research.
Presently, early-stage clinical investigations are underway at the Republican Clinical Hospital to explore the feasibility and safety of using mesenchymal stem cell–derived extracellular vesicles as a therapeutic modality for spinal cord injuries. This program seeks to translate the experimental findings into patient-centered care, with careful monitoring of outcomes and potential risks as treatment protocols are refined for human use.
Across these efforts, the underlying aim is to harness cell-derived vesicles as biological messengers that can modulate the injury environment, promote tissue preservation, and support functional recovery after spinal cord trauma. While still in the exploratory phase, the work contributes to a growing body of evidence on regenerative strategies that blend cellular biology with targeted delivery systems, opening avenues for future innovations in neurotrauma care.
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