The Possible Role of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Therapy in the Repair of Experimentally Induced Colitis in Male Albino Rats

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Colitis is inflammation of the colon which can be transmural or confined to the mucosa. Colitis may be acute or chronic. In case of serious intestinal discontinuity of epithelium, the regeneration capacity of local stem cells is not enough to complete tissue repair. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) migrate into the gastrointestinal wall, where they may contribute to the repair progress. The present study aimed at evaluating the possible therapeutic effect of MSCs on induced colitis in albino rat. Methods and Results: Twenty male albino rats were divided into 3 groups (control, colitis, MSCs), control group (4 rats), colitis group (8 rats) received once intra-rectal injection of 2 ml of 3% acetic acid. MSCs therapy group (8 rats) injected with MSCs 24 hours after colitis induction. In each group, rats were subdivided into subgroups (a & b). Subgroup (a) corresponds to rats sacrificed 3 days and subgroup (b) corresponds to rats sacrificed 10 days after colitis induction. Isolation and culture of MSCs from rat bone marrow were performed. Colon sections were examined using light and fluorescent microscopy. Colon specimens were subjected to histological, morphometric and statistical studies. In colitis group, ulceration, loss of surface columnar epithelium, disturbed crypts architecture with few goblet cells and huge lymphatic nodule piercing the muscularis mucosa were reported. In stem cell therapy group, MSCs stimulate colonic repair through differentiation into several cells and dampen the inflammation. Conclusions: MSCs represent future therapeutic hopes for intestinal injury and chronic intestinal inflammatory states.

Bone Marrow Cell Therapy on 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-Induced Colon Cancer in Rats

“…Coinciding with our findings, MSCs accumulate in inflamed areas of the colon and contribute to tissue repair by a differentiation into vascular smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, pericytes or epithelial cells. In addition, BMCs therapy may be useful antifibrotic treatment by producing the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) that involved in the prevention of fibrosis [34]. …”

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promote Cardiac Muscle Repair via Enhanced Neovascularization

“…Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are the most important population of bone marrow-derived stem/progenitor cells. Cells similar to bone marrow-derived MSCs have now been identified in all postnatal tissues, and play essential roles in the renewal and repair of various tissues [7,8,9,10,11,12]. Determination of the biological properties of MSCs has enabled successful revision of the role of MSCs in various organs and tissues [7,8,9,10,11,12].…”

Comparison of Three Types of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (Bone Marrow, Adipose Tissue, and Umbilical Cord-Derived) as Potential Sources for Inner Ear Regeneration

“…In this regard, various aspects of developmental biology and molecular signaling networks must be considered 68,69 . Multi differentiation potential of MSCs and their capability to migrate into acute injury location make these cells suitable candidate for gene and cell therapy [70][71][72][73][74] . MSCs have been demonstrated to be helpful in treating inner ear inflammatory damage because they exhibit multidirectional differentiation potential, immunosuppressive function and low immunogenicity 75 .…”