Effects of transplantation of Aqp1-MSCs via caudal vein on healing process of rats with femur fracture

MENG Fanbiao; LIU Baohua; LIU Zuojun

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-266X.2017.48.004

Abstract：Objective To investigate the effects of transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with high expression of aquaporin 1 (Aqp1) via caudal vain on the healing process of rats with femoral fractures.Methods MSCs (Aqp1-MSCs) stably expressing Aqp1 gene were established by lentivirus system,and the migration rates of MSCs and Aqp1-MSCs were verified by Dun chemotactic chamber system.Twenty SD rats with femur fractures were randomly divided into the observation group and the control group with 10 in each.Aqp1-MSCs and MSCs via caudal vein were administrated 2 days after surgery.The fractured femur were examined by X ray to observe the healing process 4 weeks after transplantation.Furthermore,the femora were collected and scanned using micro-CT for 3 D remodeling to examine the new cortical bone formation ration (BV/TV)and bone density (BMD).In addition,four points break analysis was used to examine the mechanical parameters of femora such as the maximal force,energy,and stiffness.Results Aqp1-MSCs and MSCs had specific chemotaxis,and the migration rates of Aqp1-MSCs and MSCs were (5.18 ±0.29) and (2.44 ±0.21) m/10 min,respectively.The BV/TV of the observation group and control group were 0.175％ ±0.01％ and 0.15％ ± 0.02％,respectively (P ＞ 0.05).The BMD of the two groups were (587.2 ± 16.53) and (511.6 ± 27.89) mgHA/ccm,respectively (P ＜ 0.05).No significant difference was found in the maximal force and energy between these two groups (both P ＞ 0.05),while the stiffness of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Transplantation of Aqp1-MSCs via caudal vain can promote the healing process of rats with femoral fractures by Aqp1 inducing the migration of MSCs.