Mesenchymal stromal cells for cutaneous wound healing in a rabbit model: pre-clinical study applicable in the pediatric surgical setting.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) expanded in vitro have been proposed as a potential therapy for congenital or acquired skin defects in pediatrics. The aim of this pre-clinical study was to investigate the effects of intradermal injections of MSC in experimental cutaneous wound repair comparing allogeneic and autologous adipose stem cells (ASCs) and autologous bone marrow-mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs).

METHODS:

Mesenchymal stromal cells were in vitro expanded from adipose and BM tissues of young female New Zealand rabbits. MSCs were characterized for plastic adhesion, surface markers, proliferation and differentiation capacity. When an adequate number of cells (ASCs 10 × 10(6) and BM-MSCs 3 × 10(6), because of their low rate of proliferation) was reached, two skin wounds were surgically induced in each animal. The first was topically treated with cell infusions, the second was used as a control. The intradermal inoculation included autologous or allogeneic ASCs or autologous BM-MSCs. For histological examination, animals were sacrificed and wounds were harvested after 11 and 21 days of treatment.

RESULTS:

Rabbit ASCs were isolated and expanded in vitro with relative abundance, cells expressed typical surface markers (CD49e, CD90 and CD29). Topically, ASC inoculation provided more rapid wound healing than BM-MSCs and controls. Improved re-epithelization, reduced inflammatory infiltration and increased collagen deposition were observed in biopsies from wounds treated with ASCs, with the best result in the autologous setting. ASCs also improved restoration of skin architecture during wound healing.

CONCLUSION:

The use of ASCs may offer a promising solution to treat extended wounds. Pre-clinical studies are however necessary to validate the best skin regeneration technique, which could be used in pediatric surgical translational research.

• Authors: Gloria Pelizzo, Maria Antonietta Avanzini, Antonia Icaro Cornaglia, Monica Osti, Piero Romano, Luigi Avolio, Rita Maccario, Massimo Dominici, Annalisa De Silvestri, Erika Andreatta, Federico Costanzo, Melissa Mantelli, Daniela Ingo, Serena Piccinno, Valeria Calcaterra
• Journal: Journal of translational medicine (J Transl Med) Vol. 13 Pg. 219 (Jul 08 2015) ISSN: 1479-5876 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 26152232 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen
• Collagen

Topics

• Adipose Tissue (cytology)
• Administration, Cutaneous
• Animals
• Bone Marrow Cells (cytology)
• Cell Nucleus (metabolism)
• Cell Proliferation
• Child
• Collagen (metabolism)
• Epithelium (pathology)
• Female
• Humans
• Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation
• Mesenchymal Stem Cells (cytology)
• Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (metabolism)
• Rabbits
• Regeneration
• Skin (pathology)
• Surgical Procedures, Operative
• Wound Healing