Mesenchymal stem cells reduce both inflammation and mortality in chronic cerebral murine toxoplasmosis

Abstract

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) are self-renewing, clonal precursors of non-haematopoietic tissues, with anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effect. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of BM-MSCs on chronic toxoplasmosis. BM-MSCs were isolated from 6-wk-old BALB/c donor male mice, then grown and propagated in culture until cell count was 5–8x106/ml. Female Swiss albino mice were divided into five groups: Group I (infected mice injected with BM-MSCs); Group II (infected mice treated with both BM-MSCs and conventional treatment); Group III (infected mice conventionally treated with Spiramycin-Metronidazole combination); Group IV (infection control group in which mice were infected with Me49 strain of Toxoplasma gondii) and Group V (non-infected mice injected with BM-MSCs). Histopathological examination of brain tissue and survival rate were assessed in each group. Compared to the infection control group and conventionally treated group, the infected mice injected with BM-MSCs showed less tissue damage, mild inflammatory changes in brain sections and low mortality rate. The group treated with both MSCs and conventional treatment showed unexpected sever inflammation and the highest mortality rate.