ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:Thrombospondin-1 is an important endogenous activator of transforming growth factor beta 1 in this experimental inflammatory kidney disease model. Transforming growth factor beta 1 is considered the major cytokine that causes tissue fibrosis in many different inflammatory disease processes, in particular in renal disease. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the expression of thrombospondin-1 on renal fibrosis in rats. METHODS:Healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham surgery group and model group. In themodel group, right ureters of rats were ligated to construct models of renal fibrosis. 3 weeks after surgery, blood and urine were obtained weekly. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and Bradford method were used to detect the contents of serum creatinine,blood urea nitrogen and urinary protein. After rats were sacrificed, kidneys were fixed. Western blot assay was utilized to identify the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, transforming growth factor beta 1 and thrombospondin-1 protein. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was applied to detect the changes in pathological structure of the kidney after surgery. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) One week after model induction, urinary protein, serum creatinine and urea nitrogen levels were significantly higher in the model group than in the sham surgery group (P< 0.05). Three weeks later, the difference in each index was significant (P< 0.01), which showed that the injury of the kidney was aggravated. (2) Transforming growth factor beta 1 protein and thrombospondin-1 expression was significantly higher in the model group than in the sham surgery group, but vascular endothelial growth factor protein expression was significantly lower in the model group than in the sham surgery group. (3) Hematoxylin-eosin staining results demonstrated that severe pathological changes of renal tissue in rats were detected after ligation of renal tubule. (4) These results confirmed that thrombospondin-1 expression increased in renal tissue, and its expression was strongly associated with vascular endothelial growth factor protein and transforming growth factor beta 1, which may play an important role in the renal fibrosis.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:Common strategies for preventing diabetic nephropathy include effective control of blood sugar and blood pressure, inhibition of the rennin-angiotensin system and lipid-lowering therapy, but it is often difficult to get the desired results. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels on levels of blood glucose and urinary total protein in diabetic nephropathy rats. METHODS: Forty-five Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups (n=15 per group): normal control group, diabetic nephropathy group and stem cel transplantation group. Rats in the diabetic nephropathy and stem cel transplantation groups were given single use of 60 mg/kg streptozotocin to make diabetic nephropathy models. The same dose of citric acid-sodium citrate buffer was injected in the normal control group. After modeling, 200μL of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel solution (2×106) was injected into the left ventricle of rats in the stem cel transplantation group, and then at 7 days after the first transplantation, the cel transplantation was conducted again. The same dose of serum-free L-DMEM was injected intracardialy into the rats in the normal control and diabetic nephropathy groups. Levels of urinary total protein and blood glucose were detected. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:At 1, 4, 8 weeks after treatment, the urinary total protein and blood glucose levels were significantly higher in the stem cel transplantation group and diabetic nephropathy group than the normal control group (P 0.05). These findings indicate that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation in diabetic nephropathy rats can get good results in a short period, significantly improve the blood glucose and urinary total protein levels, but the long-term treatment effect is poor.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s transplantation can inhibit experimental emphysema inflammatory reaction and apoptosis, and has been experimental y confirmed to treat severe lung function impairment. OBJECTIVE:To explore the inhibitory effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s transplantation via different ways on inflammatory reaction and apoptosis due to experimental emphysema. METHODS:Female Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group, intravenous group and endotracheal group fol owing model establishment using fumigation plus intratracheal instil ation of porcine pancreatic elastase. In the latter two groups, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s from male rats were injected via the tail vein and the trachea, respectively. In the control group, rats were given PBS via he tail vein and trachea. At 14 days after transplantation, pathological changes of rat lung tissues were observed, cel apoptotic index in alveolar wal cel s and tumor necrosis factorαlevel in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were detected. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group, in the intravenous and endotracheal groups,the pathological changes of lung tissues were relieved, tumor necrosis factorαlevel and apoptosis index were reduced significantly (P0.05). These findings indicate that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s transplantation via the tail vein and trachea both can exert obvious therapeutic effects on emphysema. Moreover, cel transplantation via the tail vein is more convenient and easier than that via the trachea in the treatment of emphysema.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:Type 1 diabetes mel itus is an autoimmune disease, which is characterized as the selective destruction of pancreatic beta cel s in the body, resulting in the lack of insulin secretion. Umbilical cord blood stem cel s have the potential to differentiate into islet cel s in vitro and in vivo, which play a certain hypoglycemic effect. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effects of umbilical cord blood stem cel s on blood glucose levels and PDX-1 and MafA levels in the pancreatic tissue of type 1 diabetic rats. METHODS:Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups, with 10 rats in each group. In treatment and model groups, type 1 diabetes mel itus modes were established. After modeling, the treatment group was given a single tail vein injection of umbilical cord blood stem cel s;the normal control group was given the same volume of normal saline;the model group was given the same volume of umbilical cord blood stem cel buffer solution. Oral glucose tolerance test was adopted to assess the islet function of rats;hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the pancreatic morphology of rats;western blot and PCR methods were employed to detect expressions of PDX-1 and MafA in pancreatic tissues at protein and mRNA levels. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Compared with the normal control group, the levels of blood glucose in the model and treatment groups were significantly higher at 0, 30, 60, 90 minutes (P0.05). (2) The number of islets in the model group was decreased, and the boundary was unclear and irregular;in the treatment group, the number of islets was decreased, but the boundary was stil clear. (3) The expressions of PDX-1 and MafA in the treatment group were similar to those in the normal control group (P>0.05), but significantly higher than those in the model group (P<0.05). These findings suggest that the umbilical cord blood stem cel transplantation can significantly reduce the blood glucose levels in type 1 diabetic rats, improve the function of islet and morphology of pancreas, and up-reuglate the expressions of PDX-1 and MafA.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells transplantation can change the surrounding microenvironment through paracrine mechanisms, and can be employed for treatment of serious damage to lung function through the promotion of angiogenesis, inhibition of apoptosis and maintaining functional stability of autonomic nervous system. OBJECTIVE:To observe the inflammatory reaction in experimental emphysema and inhibition of apoptosis through bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells transplantation. METHODS:Twenty-four Wistar female rats were randomly divided into three groups:healthy control group, model group and experimental group. In the latter two groups, smoking and endotracheal instil ation of porcine pancreatic elastase were performed to establish emphysema models. After modeling, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were injected via tail vein in the experimental group. Pathological changes of the lung, the level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and cellnumber in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid as wel as apoptotic index in lveolar wal s were detected after celltransplantation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In the model and experimental groups, pathological changes of lung tissues were observed to different extent. The lung pathological changes were slighter in the experimental group than the model group (P<0.01). The level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and apoptotic index in lung tissue were lower in the experimental group than the model group (P<0.01). These findings indicate that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells can improve emphysema pathological y through inhibition of inflammatory response and apoptosis in experimental emphysema.