Effect of co-treatment with mesenchymal stem cells and polyvinyl alcohol- coated selenium nanoparticles on rats with streptozotocin-induced Alzheimer's disease

Abstract Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation is a potential strategy for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The stem cells have a short lifespan after transplantation in the recipient animals. Selenium nanoparticles facilitate drug treatment in brain diseases due to their size. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible therapeutic effect of co-treatment of MSCs with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-coated selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) against streptozotocin (STZ)-mediated AD in rats. Rats were assigned to five groups: control, Alz (STZ; 3 mg/kg, 10 μL, ICV), Alz+stem cell (ICV transplantation), Alz+SeNP (0.4 mg/kg, orally), and Alz+stem cell+SeNPs. ICV administration of STZ mimicked some aspects of AD in Alz groups. SeNPs were administrated for 30 days after STZ administration. The novel object recognition (NOR) and passive avoidance learning (PAL) tests were used to measure cognition and memory. Oxidative stress biomarkers, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and amyloid-beta plaques were assessed by biochemical analysis, ELISA kit, and Congo red staining, respectively. The combined treatment of PVA-coated SeNPs and MSCs transplantation was more effective in increasing the memory reacquisition than the administration of SeNPs or MSCs alone. The stem cells and PVA-coated SeNPs together significantly increased the antioxidant capacity and reduced the amyloid-beta plaques. It seems that co-treatment with PVA-coated SeNP with MSCs has a great neuroprotection effect against AD in animal models.