Mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate ischemia-reperfusion-induced renal dysfunction by improving the antioxidant/oxidant balance in the ischemic kidney.
BACKGROUND
Renal ischemia followed by reperfusion leads to acute renal failure in both native kidneys and renal allograft. This study aimed at investigating the effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) on ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and the underlying mechanisms in a rat model.


METHODS
Renal ischemia was produced by clamping the right renal vessels for 60 min after the left kidney was removed. Immediately after visual confirmation of reflow, 1 × 10(6) MSC were administered by intravenous injection, followed by reperfusion for 24 h. The kidney functions, tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels were evaluated. Histopathological examinations were also performed.


RESULTS
MSC infusion significantly improved kidney function as indicated by lower urea and creatinine levels in the MSC compared to the vehicle group (p < 0.05). I/R-induced reduction in renal tissue SOD enzyme activity and GSH-Px was significantly improved by MSC (p < 0.05). Treatment with MSC also resulted in significant reduction in renal tissue MDA levels that were increased by renal I/R injury (p < 0.05). At histological examination, the kidneys of MSC-treated rats showed a fairly normal morphology.


CONCLUSIONS
MSC protects the kidneys against I/R injury at least via their antioxidant effects.
Zhuo
Wenli
W
Organ Transplant Institute, Fuzhou General Hospital, Xiamen University, Fuzhou, PR China.
Liao
Lianming
L
Xu
Tingzhao
T
Wu
Weizhen
W
Yang
Shunliang
S
Tan
Jianming
J
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D007511:Ischemia / Q000473:pathology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000293:injuries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D016877:Oxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000473:pathology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
D000975:Antioxidants; D016877:Oxidants; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase