Abstract
Background
Stem cell therapy has been proven to rescue intestinal injury and stimulate intestinal regeneration in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Specifically, stem cells derived from amniotic fluid (AFSCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from bone marrow have shown promising results in the treatment of experimental NEC. This study aims to examine the effects of AFSCs and MSCs on the prevention of intestinal injury during experimental NEC.
Methods
Supernatants from AFSC and MSC cultures were collected to perform proteomic analysis. Prior to NEC induction, mice received intraperitoneal injections of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), 2 × 106 AFSCs, or 2 × 106 MSCs.
Results
We found that AFSCs grew faster than MSCs. Proteomic analysis indicated that AFSCs are primarily involved in cell development and growth, while MSCs are involved in immune regulation. Administering AFSCs before NEC induction decreased NEC severity and mucosal inflammation. Intestinal proliferation and endogenous stem cell activation were increased after AFSC administration. However, administering MSCs before NEC induction had no beneficial effects.
Conclusions
This study demonstrated that AFSCs and MSCs have different protein release profiles. AFSCs can potentially be used as a preventative strategy for neonates at risk of NEC, while MSCs cannot be used.
Impact
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AFSCs and MSCs have distinct protein secretory profiles, and AFSCs are primarily involved in cell development and growth, while MSCs are involved in immune regulation.
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AFSCs are unique in transiently enhancing healthy intestinal epithelial cell growth, which offers protection against the development of experimental NEC.
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The prevention of NEC via the administration of AFSCs should be evaluated in infants at great risk of developing NEC or in infants with early signs of NEC.
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Acknowledgements
Proteomic analyses were performed by the Center for Advanced Proteomics Analyses, a Node of the Canadian Genomic Innovation Network that is supported by the Canadian Government through Genome Canada. B.L. is the recipient of a Restracomp Fellowship, The Hospital for Sick Children, and an Early Career Award Program grant from the Thrasher Research Fund (14503). A.P. is the recipient of a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Foundation Grant (353857) and was also supported by the Robert M. Filler Chair of Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children.
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B.L., C.L., M.C., J.S.O’C., S.R.B., H.M., M.A., N.G., K.C.J.-H., and P.M.S.: conception and design, collection and/or assembly of data, data analysis and interpretation, manuscript writing, and final approval of the manuscript. P.M. and A.P.: conception and design, financial support, and final approval of the manuscript.
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Li, B., Lee, C., Cadete, M. et al. Amniotic fluid stem cell administration can prevent epithelial injury from necrotizing enterocolitis. Pediatr Res 91, 101–106 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-021-01657-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-021-01657-6
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