Successful treatment of localised radiation lesions in rats and humans by mesenchymal stem cell transplantation

Abstract

Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), at early and later stages after local exposure of rats to 140 Gy 90Sr/90Y beta radiation, was found to stimulate recovery of damaged skin. The area of local radiation injuries (LRIs) and accelerated healing of radiation ulcers was obtained. Clinical evolution showed the high efficiency of the transplantations of autologous MSCs for the treatment of deep beam ulcers, usually refractive to standard conservative treatment. Analogous to our results in the rats the authors obtained promising results with the application of MSCs for the treatment of severe LRIs in two human patients. Their radiation ulcers showed complete healing after stem cell application. Thus, further developments should determine the best possible conditions for MSC use in LRI treatment.

Adipose mesenchymal stromal cells minimize and repair radiation-induced oral mucositis

“…MSCs have been applied for the repair of arthritis [63], cardiac muscle [152,153], lung tissue [150], diabetes [154], skin [81,83,155,156], skeletal tissue [157], and digestive tract tissue [87,148,158]. …”

Consequences of irradiation on bone and marrow phenotypes, and its relation to disruption of hematopoietic precursors

“…Chang et al report that MSC transplantation into rats from radiation-induced abdominal injury will lead to an increased rate of recovery as evidenced by neovascularization, epithelium homeostasis, and an decline in inflammation [76]. MSC transplantation has also shown to facilitate the recovery of damaged skin following localized injury caused by irradiation [77]. …”

Low doses of X-rays induce prolonged and ATM-independent persistence of γH2AX foci in human gingival mesenchymal stem cells

“…Gingival biopsy is minimally traumatic and accompanied by only slight discomfort to the patient, and followed by wound healing without scarring [ 14 ]. Besides, gingival-derived MSCs are known to have a number of characteristics that make them very attractive for use in regenerative medicine [ 15 , 16 ]. Gingival MSCs possess strong immunomodulatory properties [ 15 ].…”