The effect of mesenchymal stem cells secretome pretreated with valproate on the seizure level, cognitive functions and inflammatory factors in epilepsy model of rats

Necessity of Project Implementation

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders worldwide, characterized by recurrent and uncontrollable seizures. These seizures profoundly affect an individual's quality of life, causing cognitive impairments and increasing the risk of psychological and social challenges. Current treatments for epilepsy are primarily limited to antiepileptic drugs, which, while effective for many patients, fail to control seizures in drug-resistant individuals. Moreover, existing medications often cause severe side effects that further diminish the quality of life. Recent research has focused on novel approaches, including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), as a promising therapeutic strategy for neurological disorders. MSCs, known for their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties as well as their secretion of neurotrophic factors, have garnered significant attention in treating neurodegenerative diseases. Studies suggest that using conditioned medium (CM) or the secretome of stem cells instead of direct cell transplantation is a practical alternative that addresses the limitations of cell-based therapies. The secretome contains cytokines and growth factors responsible for the paracrine protective effects of stem cells against cytotoxic damage, making secretome therapy a viable substitute for stem cell therapy. Additionally, preconditioning MSCs with valproate, an effective antiepileptic drug, has been shown to enhance their reparative and modulatory properties by altering the expression of genes and proteins critical for neuronal survival and function. This study aims to evaluate the therapeutic effects of the secretome from human umbilical cord-derived MSCs preconditioned with valproate in a rat model of epilepsy. The parameters investigated will include seizure severity, cognitive activities, and inflammatory factor levels in a temporal lobe epilepsy model.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Maryam Farahmandfar
Start Year: 2024