title: Mesenchymal Stem Cells Enhance Angiogenesis and Follicle Survival in Human Cryopreserved Ovarian Cortex Transplantation.
abstract: Transplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue is a novel technique to restore endocrine function and fertility especially for cancer patients. However, the main obstacle of the technique is massive follicle loss as a result of ischemia in the process of transplantation. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been acknowledged to play an important role in supporting angiogenesis and stabilizing long-lasting blood vessel networks through release of angiogenic factors and differentiation into pericytes and endothelial cells. This study is aimed to investigate whether MSCs could be applied to overcome the above obstacle to support the ovarian tissue survival in the transplantation. Here we show that human MSCs could enhance the expression level of VEGF, FGF2, and especially the level of angiogenin, significantly stimulate neovascularization, and increase blood perfusion of the grafts in the cryopreserved ovarian tissue transplantation. Further studies reveal that MSCs could notably reduce the apoptotic rates of primordial follicles and decrease follicle loss in the grafted ovarian tissues. In summary, our findings demonstrate a previously unrecognized function of MSCs in improving human ovarian tissue transplantation and provide a useful strategy to optimize fertility preservation and restoration.
authors.affiliation: Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Tailang
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Liying
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Cuilin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Tianren
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiaohui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhi
authors.forename: Jijun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qiao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D059247:Fertility Preservation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D010053:Ovary / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000379:methods