Endothelial progenitor cells repair ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

Zhou Li-na; Wang Yu-xin; Fang Lin; Wu Ting; Yu Yi

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2014.32.011

Abstract：BACKGROUND:Endothelial progenitor cells are recruited into local vascular injury under the injury-induced stimulation, and then differentiate into mature endothelial cells that are thereby involved in angiogenesis and endothelial repair. OBJECTIVE:To investigate whether endothelial progenitor cells can al eviate renal injury and improve renal function of ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/R) rats. METHODS:Peripheral blood samples extracted from Sprague-Dawley rats were used to isolate and culture endothelial progenitor cells using density gradient centrifugation. Twenty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to three groups:I/R group, normal control group, and endothelial progenitor cells group. In the I/R and endothelial progenitor cells groups, the right kidney was removed and the renal artery and vein of the left kidney were occluded for 40 minutes to establish I/R models in the rats, and then endothelial progenitor cells (5×109/L, total y 1 mL) or solvent was transplanted via the artery of the left kidney into the left kidney. In the normal control group, the experimental procedure was same as that in the I/R group except for occlusion of the artery and vein of the left kidney. Renal and blood samples from three groups were col ected at day 1 after operation. Peripheral blood CD34 and vascular endoethelial growth factor receptor 2 expressions were determined using flow cytometry and immunofluorescence methods, serum creatinine and urea nitrogen were tested, and immunohistochemistry observation was used for CD34 observation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the normal control group, serum creatinine and urea nitrogen levels were significantly increased, and tubulointerstitial CD34 expression was decreased in the I/R group (P<0.05). Endothelial progenitor cells treatment largely decreased the levels of serum creatinine and urea nitrogen, and increased CD34 expression (P<0.05). These findings indicate that transplantation of endothelial progenitor cells contributes to renal protection in I/R rats.