title: Beneficial effect of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells on an endotoxin-induced rat model of preeclampsia.
abstract: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which exhibit the property of immune-modulation, have been shown to treat various diseases, including pulmonary hypertension. There is a functional similarity between the pulmonary circulation and the placenta, but it remains to be elucidated whether MSCs can be applied to treat endotoxin-induced hypertension during pregnancy; therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of a human umbilical cord-derived MSC infusion on endotoxin-induced hypertension during pregnancy. Rats were randomly divided into three groups (n=7 per group): Control, endotoxin-treated and endotoxin + MSCs. The model of preeclampsia (PE) was established via the intravenous injection of endotoxin. In the endotoxin + MSCs group, MSCs at 2×106cells/rat were injected via the vena caudalis. The blood pressure, urine protein and number of white blood cells were measured. In addition, the protein expression levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 were examined by ELISA. The blood pressure, levels of urine protein and number of white blood cells in the endotoxin-treated group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05); however, this increase was significantly attenuated in the endotoxin + MSCs group (P<0.05). In addition, the application of MSCs significantly reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory TNF-α and IL-1β and increased the levels of anti-inflammatory IL-10 in the endotoxin-treated rats. In conclusion, umbilical cord-derived MSCs have a protective effect in an endotoxin-induced model of PE, and this effect is likely elicited through the suppression of inflammatory factors. Umbilical cord-derived MSC-based therapy may provide a potential therapeutic method for endotoxin-induced hypertension during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, P.R. China ; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Lihua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: The Enterprise Key Laboratory of Tianjin Stem Cell Regenerative and Translational Medicine, Tianjin 300300, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yongjun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shenyang Women's and Children's Hospital, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: The Enterprise Key Laboratory of Tianjin Stem Cell Regenerative and Translational Medicine, Tianjin 300300, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hongbo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shang
keywords: hypertension; inflammation; interleukin-10; interleukin-1β; preeclampsia; tumor necrosis factor-α; umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells