BACKGROUND AIMS: The engraftment of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is reported to promote recovery of renal function in animal models of acute kidney injury (AKI). However, it is unknown whether mesenchymal-like progenitors (MPs) derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can mediate similar therapeutic effects. We investigated the responses of recipient renal tissue to engraftment of hESC-MPs and underlying mechanisms of these effects. METHODS: We measured blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels of AKI mice with hESC-MPs transplantation and control mice. We performed renal morphology analysis by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy to confirm the renoprotective effects of engrafted hESC-MPs. Proliferation, apoptosis and gene expression of tubular cells were also monitored by immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction to investigate the mechanisms that occurred. RESULTS: After transplantation of hESC-MPs into mice with cisplatin-induced AKI, improvements in renal function and recovery from tubular epithelial cell injury were observed. Engrafted hESC-MPs were localized to areas of injured kidney 5 days after cisplatin induction, where they promoted tubular cell proliferation and decreased kidney cell apoptosis. The beneficial effect was further confirmed by the capability of the engrafted cells to up-regulate renal gene expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines and pro-survival cytokines. Meanwhile, infusion of these cells reduced renal gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and monocyte chemotactic protein-1, a chemokine that stimulates monocyte and macrophage infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that infused hESC-MPs may promote recovery from AKI by regulating related cytokines.
BACKGROUND AIMS: The engraftment of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is reported to promote recovery of renal function in animal models of acute kidney injury (AKI). However, it is unknown whether mesenchymal-like progenitors (MPs) derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can mediate similar therapeutic effects. We investigated the responses of recipient renal tissue to engraftment of hESC-MPs and underlying mechanisms of these effects. METHODS: We measured blood ureanitrogen and creatinine levels of AKI mice with hESC-MPs transplantation and control mice. We performed renal morphology analysis by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy to confirm the renoprotective effects of engrafted hESC-MPs. Proliferation, apoptosis and gene expression of tubular cells were also monitored by immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction to investigate the mechanisms that occurred. RESULTS: After transplantation of hESC-MPs into mice with cisplatin-induced AKI, improvements in renal function and recovery from tubular epithelial cell injury were observed. Engrafted hESC-MPs were localized to areas of injured kidney 5 days after cisplatin induction, where they promoted tubular cell proliferation and decreased kidney cell apoptosis. The beneficial effect was further confirmed by the capability of the engrafted cells to up-regulate renal gene expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines and pro-survival cytokines. Meanwhile, infusion of these cells reduced renal gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and monocyte chemotactic protein-1, a chemokine that stimulates monocyte and macrophage infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that infused hESC-MPs may promote recovery from AKI by regulating related cytokines.
Authors: Mahrous A Ibrahim; Athar M Khalifa; Alaa A Mohamed; Rania A Galhom; Horeya E Korayem; Noha M Abd El-Fadeal; Ahmed Abd-Eltawab Tammam; Mohamed Mansour Khalifa; Osama S Elserafy; Rehab I Abdel-Karim Journal: Toxics Date: 2022-09-06