Basic fibroblast growth factor increases the transplantation-mediated therapeutic effect of bone mesenchymal stem cells following traumatic brain injury

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) has proven useful for neural stem and progenitor cells during the transplantation-mediated therapeutic effect of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Endogenous bFGF expression levels increase during brain development and gradually diminish with aging. To date, few studies have been conducted on exogenous bFGF promoting BMSC transplantation-mediated functional recovery in adult rats following traumatic brain injury (TBI). The results of the present study showed that BMSCs in the TBI cortex and dentate gyrus showed differentiation along the glial and neuronal lines, which are possibly enhanced by bFGF. The neuronal differentiation rate was not consistent with neurological functional recovery rate over time. bFGF may promote the transplantation-mediated therapeutic effect of BMSCs more significantly and rapidly in rats following TBI, with a small proportion of differentiated neurons. In conclusion, exogenous bFGF functions as a booster of the transplantation-mediated therapeutic effect of BMSCs following TBI.