Background: Adult stem cells are promising novel therapies in regenerative medicine. We investigated effects of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on intestinal mucosal permeability impaired by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R).
Methods: We used a common I/R model in rats to induce intestinal injury by clamping and unclamping the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) in female Sprague-Dawley rats. MSCs were directly injected into the small intestinal submucosa of the syngenic female rats. Control group were injected with the same volume of 0.9% sodium chloride. Small intestine samples were examined for the engraftment of donor-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) by Y chromosome in situ hybridization analysis. The small intestinal permeability and histomorphologic alternations were measured to evaluate the therapeutic effect of MSCs transplantation.
Results: Small intestinal permeability and villi injuries were significantly reduced in the MSCs administrated group compared with control group. MSCs administration accelerated the recovery of the intestinal barrier dysfunction.
Conclusion: We concluded that submucosal infusion of MSCs might exert protective effects on the integrity of intestinal barrier.
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