Proteomic analysis of cerebrospinal fluid of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients in the presence of autologous bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells

Abstract

Abstract Background Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal and fast progressive motoneuron degenerative disorder. There are still no drugs capable to slower disease evolution or to improve life quality of ALS patients. In that scenario, the cell therapy has emerged as an alternative to be investigated in clinical ALS. Method Taking the advantage of Proteomics and Protein-Protein Interaction Network analyses combined to bioinformatics, possible cellular mechanisms and molecular targets related to mesenchymal stem cells (MSC, 1x106 cells/kg, intrathecally in the lumbar region of the spine) were investigated in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of ALS patients who received intrathecal infusions of autologous bone marrow-derived MSC thirty days after cell therapy. Results Proteomics showed 220 deregulated proteins in CSF of ALS subjects. Bioinformatic enriched analyses evidenced APOA1, APOE, APP, C4A, C5, FGA, FGB, FGG and PLG, as highlighted targets as well as extracellular matrix and cell adhesion molecules as possible mechanisms related to the presence of MSC in CSF of ALS subjects. Conclusions We have demonstrated a possible role of extracellular matrix/cell adhesion molecules and their related highlighted targets to the presence of autologous MSC in CSF ALS patients. Trial Registration: Clinicaltrial.gov identifier NCT0291768. Registered 28 September 2016.