Plasticity of adult human pancreatic duct cells by neurogenin3-mediated reprogramming

Optimal route of transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells for therapy of acute pancreatitis

AIM: To find the optimal route of transplantation of mesenchym stem cells for the treatment of acute pancreatitis.

METHODS: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were derived from the bone marrow of the femur and tibia from healthy 3-week-old SD rats by primary adherent culture. Acute pancreatitis was induced in rats by intraperitoneal injection of L-arginine. The model rats were randomly divided into either a treatment group or a model group. Serum amylase was measured at 12, 24, 48, and 72 h and lipase measured at 24, 48, 72 h, and one week. The treatment group was further divided into a tail vein group, a superior mesenteric vein group, and a pancreatic local injection group, with 40 rats in each group. All experimental groups received Pkh26 labelled BMSCs transplantation. At 12, 24, 48, 72 h, and one week after the transplantation, serum amylase and lipase were measured and compared. After three weeks, Pkh26 labelled BMSCs in animals were observed, and pancreatic tissue pathology was assessed by HE staining.

RESULTS: Two weeks and three weeks after the transplantation, compared with the model group, the levels of serum amylase and lipase were statistically significant different in the tail vein injection group, and they were also significantly decreased in the pancreatic local injection group and superior mesenteric vein group compared with the model group (P < 0.05). The levels of serum amylase and lipase were significantly lower in the pancreatic local injection group than in the superior mesenteric vein group (P < 0.05), but they were still higher in the treatment groups than in the control group. Very few Pkh26 labeled cells were found in the tail vein group at different time points. A few Pkh26 labeled cells were found in the superior mesenteric vein group at week 2, and more were visible at week 3. A lot of Pkh26 labeled cells were found in the pancreatic local injection group at both weeks 2 and 3, but they were not found in the control group or model group at each time point.

CONCLUSION: Transplantation of bone marrow BMSCs via the tail vein, superior mesenteric vein and pancreatic local injection can ameliorate and repair pancreatic function of rats with pancreatic injury. Pancreatic local injection is the best route of transplantation.

Progress in treatment of pancreatitis with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

Severe acute pancreatitis, characterized by a rapid onset and the heaviness of the disease, has a mortality rate of 20%-40%. The major causes of acute pancreatitis are symptomatic gallstone disease and excessive alcohol intake. Drugs, toxins, infections, trauma, ischemia, anatomic variants, hypercalcemia, hyperlipidemia and autoimmune disease are rare causes. Although revolutionary progress has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of severe acute pancreatitis, its mortality rate is still high. Currently, too much attention is paid to restraining pancreatic enzyme secretion and preventing multiple organ secondary damage in the treatment of severe acute pancreatitis, and promotion of functional recovery of the pancreas is less considered. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells can be used to promote the functional recovery of the pancreas in patients with severe acute pancreatitis.