Cellular immune response to intrastriatally implanted allogeneic bone marrow stromal cells in a rat model of Parkinson's disease

MSC, when implanted into the striatum of allogeneic animals, provoke a marked immune response which is not sufficient to clear these cells by 22-24 days post-transplantation. In the experimental paradigm in this study, MSC did not prevent nigrostriatal dopamine depletion and its associated behavioral deficits. Additional studies are indicated to clarify the effects of this immune response on MSC survival and function before initiating trials with these cells in patients with PD or other neurodegenerative disorders.