Efficacy and oncological safety of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation for colitis in inflammatory bowel disease models in mice / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:Transfusion of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells may become a novel and effective biological therapy for inflammatory bowel disease in clinical practice. Nevertheless, the oncological safety of the treatment is worrisome, and is a key to determine whether mesenchymal stem cells can be widely used in treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, and deserves further investigation. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the therapeutic effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem celltransfusion against inflammatory bowel disease in mouse models, and to clarify the effects of mesenchymal stem cells on tumorigenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. METHODS:Mouse model of colitis was established using Balb/c (H-2d) mice exposed to dextran sulfate sodium. Syngeneic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were transfused into mouse model through caudal vein. The therapeutic effect of mesenchymal stem cells was compared and observed, and pathological remission of colitis was evaluated. Mouse model of colitis-driven colon carcinogenesis was established using Balb/c (H-2d) mice exposed to dextran sulfate sodium and azoxymethane. Tumor formation within the murine colon was compared and observed after transfusion of mesenchymal stem cells. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In models of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis, weight loss and fecal occult blood were lessened in the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cellgroup compared with the phosphate buffered saline group. Histological damage score of colitis was less in the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cellgroup:mucosal structure of distal colon was almost intact under microscope, and there was smal area of epithelial defects and cryptal defects. Inflammatory cellinfiltration, proliferation of capil ary and smal vessels could be observed in mucosa and submucosa. Homing and colonization of mesenchymal stem cells in submucosa of inflamed colon could also be observed by in vivo tracing. In the dextran sulfate sodium/azoxymethane model of colitis-driven colon carcinogenesis, the number of intestinal tumors and tumor load were obviously less in the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cellgroup than in the control group. Results indicated that transfusion of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells can apparently improve colitis lesions of mice with inflammatory bowel disease and inhibit carcinogenesis of colitis, which may provide theoretical support for the biological safety of mesenchymal stem cells transplantation for inflammatory bowel disease.