Xiao Chen, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Weiguo Zhang, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To explore the effect of exogenous endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) on the cerebral blood perfusion and microvessel alteration in the injured region after traumatic brain injury (TBI).

At 6h and 12h after TBI(i.e. two subgroups of SPIO-EPCs Group), spleen-derived exogenous EPCs labeled with super-paramagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) (SPIO-EPCs) were transplanted into tail vein of rats at 6h and 12h after TBI respectively. At 72h, 120h and 168h after TBI, MRI, CT perfusion imaging, Prussian blue staining and CD31 staining were performed in TBI model.

In SPIO-EPCs Group, there was obviously-low signal alteration in the injured area and Perls+ particles in the injured tissues. The range of low signal gradually expanded and the amount of Perls+ particles gradually increased over time. The value of regional cerebral blood flow, regional cerebral blood volume and permeability surface in the injured hemisphere gradually decreased over time, and were all obviously-lower in SPIO-EPCs Group than TBI Group at 120h (P<0.002). While CD31+ cell count and microvessel density tended to gradually increase in the injured region and peripheral cerebral tissues, both at a significant difference among 72h, 120h and 168h(P<0.001). At each time point, CD31+ cell count and microvessel density were significantly higher in SPIO-EPCs Group than TBI Group (P<0.001). However, these data are not significantly different between both subgroups of SPIO-EPCs Group.

The transplantation of exogenous EPCs could promote the vascular repair in the injured tissues, and markedly improve the cerebral hemodynamic abnormality after TBI. Moreover, MRI could track the alteration of EPCs in the injured area, and CPTI could definitely display the corresponding alteration of cerebral blood.

The transplantation of exogenous EPCs could promote the vascular repair in the injured tissues, and markedly improve the cerebral hemodynamic abnormality after TBI.

Chen, X, Zhang, W, The Effects of SPIO-labeled Exogenous Endothelial Progenitor Cells on Cerebral Blood Perfusion and Microvasculature Alterations after Traumatic Brain Injury in a Rat Model.  Radiological Society of North America 2012 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2012 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2012/12021797.html