Functional Mechanism of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Treatment of Animal Models with Alzheimer’s Disease: Inhibition of Neuroinflammation

Abstract: The transplantation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) alleviates neuropathology and improves cognitive deficits in animal models with Alzheimer's disease. However, the underlying mechanisms remain to be determined. Available data demonstrate transplanted BMMSCs can inhibit neuroinflammation, which may be related to microglial M1/M2 polarization and is regulated by the secretion of autocrine and paracrine cytokines. BMMSCs also mitigate Aβ plaques and Tau tangles in the brain, which may be associated with the recruitment of peripheral blood monocytes and the subsequent comprehensive effects. The therapeutic effects of stem cells involve potential mechanisms such as immunomodulation, apoptosis, and proliferation. BMMSC-mediated functional reconstruction through dynamic remodeling develops a novel balance. Herein, present review recapitulates the molecular basis of BMMSC-assisted biological processes and summarizes the possible mechanisms related to the interaction between BMMSCs and microglia. The transplanted BMMSCs can suppress neuroinflammation that plays a key role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, microglia, immunomodulation, apoptosis