Mechanism of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells transplantation in the treatment of limb ischemia

Bai Chao; Yang Kun; Li Xin-xi; Wang Yang; Tian Ye; Luo Jun

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344

Abstract：BACKGROUND:Bone marrow stem cel transplantation has good achievements in the treatment of lower limb ischemic disease, but it mechanism of action is stil unclear. OBJECTIVE:To explore the mechanism of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation for treatment of limb ischemia in Sprague-Dawley rats. METHODS:The abdominal aorta, iliac arteries and lumbar arteries below the renal artery were ligated to prepare hind limb ischemia models in female Sprague-Dawley rats. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels from male Sprague-Dawley rats were amplified, purified and injected into the rectus femoris of the ischemic right hind limb in female rat models; in the control group, equal volume of normal saline was injected. After transplantation 2, 4, 6 weeks, hematoxylin-eosin staining of the right rectus femoris, immunohistochemical staining of vascular endothelial growth factor and SRY immunohistochemical staining were performed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After operation 2, 4, 6 weeks, the capilary count and the number of cels positive for vascular endothelial growth factor in the transplantation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.01). SRY immunohistochemical staining showed positive cels appeared at the capilary <br> wal, which scattered in the muscle tissue in the transplantation group. These findings indicate that the local injection of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels can improve the blood supply of ischemic hind limbs in Sprague-Dawley rats. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels as paracrine cels can prompt the neovascularization of ischemic limbs in rats by increasing the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor.