Neural stem cell transplantation with Nogo-66 receptor gene silencing to treat severe traumatic brain injury

Inhibition of neurite growth, which is mediated by the Nogo-66 receptor (NgR), affects nerve regeneration following neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation. The present study utilized RNA interference to silence NgR gene expression in NSCs, which were subsequently transplanted into rats with traumatic brain injury. Following transplantation of NSCs transfected with small interfering RNA, typical neural cell-like morphology was detected in injured brain tissues, and was accompanied by absence of brain tissue cavity, increased growth-associated protein 43 mRNA and protein expression, and improved neurological function compared with NSC transplantation alone. Results demonstrated that NSC transplantation with silenced NgR gene promoted functional recovery following brain injury.