Protective effect of stem cell therapy for endothelial injury: Glycocalyx

Abstract

Bone marrow-derived stem cells therapy had anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties, and was reported to reduce the acute inflammatory response caused by myocardial reperfusion and sepsis. Vascular endothelium plays an important role in the mechanism of stem cell therapy to regulate systemic inflammation and subsequent organ dysfunction. We evaluated how and whether bone marrow derived mononuclear cells (BMMNCs) could attenuate systemic inflammatory response in rat heatstroke model. By transplantation of BMMNCs, 1) the serum levels of inflammatory mediators and markers for endothelial injury were reduced, 2) lung edema and alveolar injury were attenuated, 3) damage of vascular endothelial glycocalyx layer was regulated, and 4) 7-Days mortality was significantly reduced. Our findings suggested that transplantation of BMMNCs attenuated acute systemic inflammation and vascular endothelial injury, reduced organ dysfunction, and improved survival in acute inflammation. Further investigations are required for the clinical application of bone marrow derived stem cell therapy.