The role of HUCB derived stem cells therapy in repair of renal damage and improvement of renal function in cisplatin induced acute renal failure in rats

Abstract

Acute renal failure (ARF) is a common clinical problem with increasing incidence, serious consequences, unsatisfactory therapeutic options and enormous financial burden to society. The aim is to investigate the role of human umbilical cord blood (HUCB) derived mesenchymal (MSCs) and CD34⁺ hematopoietic stem cell therapy in repair of renal damage and improvement of renal function in cisplatin-induced ARF model. Forty four rats were divided into 4 equal groups. ARF was induced in 3 groups using cisplatin and was confirmed by an increase in serum urea and creatinine levels after 5 days. On the same day, 2 groups were injected via the tail vein by either MSCs (1x10⁶ cells/rat) or CD34⁺ hematopoietic cells (5 x10⁵ cells/rat). The third group received intravenous injection of phosphate buffer saline and served as positive control, while the last group was normal control. Renal functions were followed up every 4 days. Thirty-three days after initiation of cisplantin injection, rats were sacrificed, kidneys were extracted for histopathological and immunohistochemical examination for detection of human specific anti-vimentin monoclonal mouse anti body to investigate homing of HUCB stem cells into the damaged renal tissue. Treatment with MSCs and CD34⁺ cells significantly decreased both serum urea and creatinine induced by cisplatin administration with concomitant improvement in the degree of necrotic and degenerative changes. There was no significant difference in these parameters between MSCs and CD 34⁺ stem cells treated groups. There was positive reaction for human specific anti-vimentin in 88.9% of animals in MSCs treated rats versus 87.5% in CD34⁺ cells treated rats. HUCB derived CD 34⁺ and MSCs accelerate regeneration of renal tubular epithelial cells and lead to reduction of progressive renal injury in cisplatin-induced acute renal failure rats.

Keywords: Acute renal failure; CD 34⁺ cells; Umbilical cord blood; Mesenchymal stem cells