Mesenchymal stem cells modulate immune responses in a rat renal transplantation model / 中华器官移植杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To discuss the effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in modulating immune responses in a rat renal transplantation model.Methods An in vivo trial of cytology was performed in one centre from March to December in 2008.Wistar rat donors and Lewis rat recipients in a renal transplantation model were randomly divided into 4 groupsMSCs (low dose,1 × 106 )therapy,MSCs (high dose,1 × 107) therapy,CsA monotherapy,and no therapy.Biochemistry methods were used to detect the levels of creatinine in serum.The survival time,renal grafting function and pathological changes of transplanted renal tissues were observed.Results Animal survival was significantly prolonged by MSCs (high dose) therapy and CsA monotherapy as compared with the no therapy group (both P＜0.01).Animal survival in the MSCs (low dose) therapy group was prolonged as compared with no therapy group (P＜0.01),but shortened as compared with MSCs (high dose) therapy group (P＜0.05) and CsA monotherapy group (P＜0.05).The MSCs (high dose) therapy and CsA therapy groups showed no special changes in histology,hut the control group showed acute rejection.Conclusion MSCs down-regulated immune responses,reduced production of some inflammatory mediators,preserved graft function in the initial stage after transplantation,and prolonged animal survival,and these effects were the same as those of CsA therapy with 1 × 107/day.