Abstract
Complete treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) is still difficult, while conventional therapies have various adverse effects. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties to be a therapeutic candidate for UC. We evaluated therapeutic potential of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AdSCs) in treatment of an acute colitis rat model using histological and molecular assessments. Thirty male Sprague Dawley acetic acid-induced (2 mL of 3%) acute colitis rat models were randomly divided into three equal groups of control receiving 0.5 mL/kg of normal saline, sulfasalazine group receiving 500 mg/kg sulfasalazine and AdSCs group transplanted transrectally with 2×106 MSCs. They were evaluated histologically and by real time PCR for expression of apoptotic genes until 21 days. MSCs were spindle shape and positive for osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation. They displayed mesenchymal and lacked hematopoietic markers. In control group, severe inflammation, edema, ulcer, necrosis and infiltration of leukocytes were noticed. In sulfasalazine group, a moderate inflammation, edema, ulcer, necrosis and infiltration of leukocytes were visible; and in AdSCs group, mild inflammation, congestion, and infiltration of leukocytes were observed with a mild edema, but necrosis was absent in colonic tissue. A stronger decrease in expression of Bax, together with a higher increase in Bcl-2 was noted in AdSCs group. Based on histological and molecular findings, AdSCs were effective to ameliorate colitis lesions through their anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities showing that transplantation of AdSCS can be a potentially useful strategy in treatment of colitis.