Which is the most suitable and effective route of administration for mesenchymal stem cell-based immunomodulation therapy in experimental kidney transplantation: endovenous or arterial?
Immunomodulating cell therapy represents a new perspective for the control of cellular immune responses that determine the occurrence of acute rejection (ACR) in allo-transplantation. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) demonstrate immunoregulatory effects by inactivating T-cell components that regulate tissue damage in transplantation models. The presumed mechanism of action is recruitment of cells by a cytokine network. The purpose of this study was to test which route of administration (intra-arterial vs intravenous) was the most effective route to achieve immunomodulating effects in experimental rat kidney transplantation. Transgenic Sprague-Dawley rats (SD) expressing the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) at the somatic level were used as MSC donors: Allogeneic Fischer to Lewis grafts (n = 4 per group) were performed in rats after bilateral nephrectomy. In Gr B, 3 x 10(6) MSCs were infused into the renal graft artery, whereas in Gr C, they were infused into the tail vein. The untreated Gr A were a control group. No immunosuppressive therapy was administered. The animals were sacrificed at day 7 postoperatively. Biochemical analysis for renal function, histological (Banff criteria) and immunohistological (anti-EGFP-Immunoglobulin) analysis were performed on the transplanted animals. In Gr B, functional recovery was more rapid (creatinine: Gr B vs Gr C, P < .05). The inflammatory infiltrate in the graft was less in Gr B vs Gr C, with preservation of tubules, arteries, and glomeruli (P < .01). Intra-arterial infusion of MSCs was more effective to control ACR.
Dipartimento di Scienze, Chirurgia Epatopancreatica, IRCCS Pol San Matteo, Chirurgiche Università di Pavia, Italy. s.zonta@smatteo.pv.it
S
S
Zonta
M
M
De Martino
G
G
Bedino
G
G
Piotti
T
T
Rampino
M
M
Gregorini
F
F
Frassoni
A
A
Dal Canton
P
P
Dionigi
M
M
Alessiani
D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D055647:Rats, Transgenic; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016042:Transplantation, Heterotopic
C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins