title: Donor mesenchymal stem cells home to maternal wounds after transamniotic stem cell therapy (TRASCET) in a rodent model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Transamniotic stem cell therapy (TRASCET) with amniotic fluid-derived MSCs (afMSCs) has emerged experimentally as a practical treatment strategy for congenital anomalies. In this study, we sought to determine whether afMSCs migrate to the mother following TRASCET.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnant rat dams were divided into three groups. Two groups received volume-matched injections into all amniotic cavities of either a suspension of afMSCs labeled with a luciferase reporter gene or the luciferase protein alone. In a third group, a suspension of labeled cells was aliquoted onto the serosal surface of the uterus. Maternal samples from the laparotomy scar (fascia and skin separately), bone marrow, and peripheral blood were procured, along with placenta and umbilical cord. Specimens were screened for luminescence via microplate luminometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Luminescence was detected in 60% (9/15) of the fascial scars from the group receiving intraamniotic injection of afMSCs, but in none of the other groups (P<0.001). There was a direct correlation between the presence of donor cells in the placenta and their presence in maternal fascia (Wald test=10.2; P=0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Amniotic mesenchymal stem cells migrate to maternal sites of injury after intraamniotic injection. Maternal homing of donor cells must be considered in the setting of transamniotic stem cell therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  N/A (animal and laboratory study).
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Christopher D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Hester F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Shieh
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Brazzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zurakowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Electronic address: dario.fauza@childrens.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Dario O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Fauza
mesh_terms: D000650:Amnion; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D005205:Fascia / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D007267:Injections; D007813:Laparotomy; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Amniotic mesenchymal stem cells; Fetal microchimerism; Fetal stem cells; Fetal therapy; TRASCET; Transamniotic stem cell therapy; Wound healing