THE EFFECTS OF ALLOGENEIC MSC ADMINISTRATION ON ATHEROSCLEROTIC VESSEL WALL (EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF TGF-β1, IL-1α, AND IL-6 ON ATHEROSCLEROTIC SPRAGUE DAWLEY RATS)

Abstract

Background: Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are implicated in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. They may able to ameliorate atherosclerosis by interfering IL-1α, IL-6 and TGF-β1 expression. However, the effect of MSCs to them in atheroscherotic vessel wall has never been reported. Objective: To investigate the effect of intravenous administration of allogeneic MSCs on atherosclerotic vessel wall. Method: Sprague Dawley rats were divided into negative control group (standard diet, n=6), positive control group (atherosclerotic diet, n=6), and MSC treatment group (atherosclerotic diet and treated by single dose of 5x10 6 MSCs, n=8). MSCs were isolated by plastic adherent method from umbilical SD rats. Atherosclerotic event in abdominal aorta was stained by hematoxilin and eosin, while IL-1α, IL-6 and TGF-β1 expression were observed by immunohitochemistry. Results: Atherosclerotic plaque in the MSC treatment group was lower than in the positive control group(p=0.006). IL-1α and IL-6 expression in endothel, smooth muscle and macrophage of three groups were not different. TGF-β1 expression by macrophage inside vessel wall in MSC tretment group was lower than in positive control group (p=0.046), but there was no different of TGF-β1 expression in both endothel and smooth muscle. Conclusion: MSCs may have role in ameliorating atherosclerotic plaque in SD rats mediated in part by reducing of TGF-β1 expression in macrophage, but not by IL-1α and IL-6. Keywords: Mesenchymal stem cells, atherosclerosis, IL-1α, IL-6, TGF-β1