Protective effects of autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation on acute radioactive enteritis in Beagle dogs

Figure 1 Identification and viability of autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells cultured in vitro. A: Cells were observed via light micrography. Bar, 100 μm; B: Each experiment was conducted in triplicate, and the values are reported as the mean ± SD; C: Identification of cultured autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. ABMSCs: Autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Figure 2 Development of a dog model of acute radiation enteritis. A: The dose and volume histogram of the intensity-modulated radiation therapy irradiation plan for 1 dog; B: Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of dogs receiving different treatments. All of the dogs treated without irradiation survived beyond one month (P < 0.05); C: Intestinal damage as observed by endoscopy after different irradiation doses (0, 12, and 26 Gy). Each result is from one out of three independent experiments, respectively; D: Characteristics of intestinal tissue specimens after 0, 12, and 26 Gy irradiation as revealed by hematoxylin & eosin staining (n = 3 dogs/group). Bars, 500 μm.

Figure 3 Transplantation and tracing for super paramagnetic iron oxide-labeled autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in vivo. A: Identification of cultured autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ABMSCs) labeled with super paramagnetic iron oxides (SPIOs) via Prussian blue staining and light microscopy (bars, 200 μm); B: The growth curve of ABMSCs labeled with different dose of SPIOs was determined by MTT assay. Each experiment was conducted in triplicate, and the values are reported as the mean ± SD; C: Abdominal aorta and mes-enteric artery branches were checked using femoral artery puncture and digital subtraction angiography imaging; D: Magnetic resonance imaging showed the results of T2 weighted image intensity comparison at the same layer; E: Observation of SPIO and Prussian blue–stained frozen sections via light microscopy. Bars, 100 μm. ^aP < 0.05 vs Blank group vs 30 mg/L group; SPIO: Super paramagnetic iron oxide; ABMSCs: Autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells; MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging.

Figure 4 Autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells improve survival in dogs and mitigate gastrointestinal symptoms after irradiation by promoting structural and functional recovery of the intestine. A: Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of dogs receiving or not receiving autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation after irradiation; B: Temperature data; C: Body weight data; D: Intestinal observation via endoscopy; E: Hematoxylin and eosin stained intestinal samples. ^aP < 0.05 vs Blank group; ^bP < 0.05 vs Saline group; ABMSCs: Autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Figure 5 Autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells transplantation regulates the secretion of cytokines in serum and intestine tissue. A: Representative images of the cytokine antibody array in different groups; B and C: Multiple antibody array analysis; D: ELISA results. ^aP < 0.05 vs Blank group; ^bP < 0.01 vs Blank group; ^cP < 0.05 vs Saline group; ^dP < 0.01 vs Saline group; ABMSCs: Autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells; MCP: Monocyte chemotactic protein; IL: Interleukin; GM-CSF: Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor; RAGE: receptor for advanced glycation end products; SCF: Stem cell factor; TNF: Tumor necrosis factor; VEGF: Vascular endothelial growth factor.