Use of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell exosomes for ependymal repair and edema reduction in posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus treatment

Abstract

Germinal matrix hemorrhages and intraventricular hemorrhages (GMH/IVH) often lead to posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH), a severe cause of morbidity and mortality in premature neonates. GMH/IVH disrupts the ependyma, which acts as a functional and physical barrier between the cerebrospinal fluid and the brain tissue. As a consequence, cerebrospinal fluid circulation and physiology are severely affected; and thus, makes ependyma a chiefly important target when it comes to designing PHH treatments. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are extremely effective anti-inflammatory agents which have already shown positive results in PHH treatment. However, there is no current therapy to recover the ependyma in humans.