title: Stem cells and necrotizing enterocolitis: A direct comparison of the efficacy of multiple types of stem cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a leading cause of gastrointestinal morbidity and mortality in premature infants. While studies have shown potential for stem cell (SC) therapy in experimental NEC, no study has compared different SC side-by-side. Our purpose was to determine whether one type of SC may more effectively treat NEC than others.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four SC were compared: (1) amniotic fluid-derived mesenchymal SC (AF-MSC); (2) amniotic fluid-derived neural SC (AF-NSC); (3) bone marrow-derived mesenchymal SC (BM-MSC); and (4) neonatal enteric neural SC (E-NSC). Using an established rat model of NEC, pups delivered prematurely received an intraperitoneal injection of SC. Control pups were injected with PBS. Additional controls were breast-fed by surrogates and not subjected to experimental NEC. Intestinal tissue was graded histologically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NEC incidence was: PBS, 61.3%; breast-fed unstressed, 0%; AF-MSC, 19.1%; BM-MSC, 22.9%; AF-NSC, 18.9%; E-NSC 22.2%. All groups demonstrated statistical significance (p<0.05) compared to controls, and there was no difference between SC groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All four SC groups reduced the incidence and severity of experimental NEC equivalently. AF-MSC may be preferable because of availability of AF at delivery and ease of expansion, increasing potential for clinical translation.
  
  
  METHODS
  V (Animal study).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Center for Perinatal Research, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: McCulloh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Center for Perinatal Research, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH.
authors.forename: Jacob K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Center for Perinatal Research, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Center for Perinatal Research, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH.
authors.forename: Yijie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Center for Perinatal Research, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH. Electronic address: Gail.Besner@NationwideChildrens.org.
authors.forename: Gail E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Besner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Amniotic fluid; Mesenchymal; NEC; Necrotizing enterocolitis; Neural stem cells; Stem cells