Comparison of the Therapeutic Effects of Adipose- and Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Renal Fibrosis

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have attracted a great deal of interest as a therapeutic tool for renal fibrosis. Although both adipose-derived and bone marrow-derived MSCs (ADSCs and BMSCs, respectively) suppress renal fibrosis, which of these two has a stronger therapeutic effect remains unclear. This study aimed to compare the antifibrotic effects of ADSCs and BMSCs extracted from adipose tissue and bone marrow derived from the same rats. When cultured in serum-containing medium, ADSCs had a more potent inhibitory effect than BMSCs on renal fibrosis induced by ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. ADSCs and BMSCs cultured in serum-free medium were equally effective in suppressing renal fibrosis. Mice infused with ADSCs (serum-containing or serum-free cultivation) had a higher death rate from pulmonary embolism than those infused with BMSCs. In vitro, mRNA levels of tissue factor, tumor necrosis factor-α-induced protein 6 and prostaglandin E synthase were higher in ADSCs than in BMSCs, while that of vascular endothelial growth factor was higher in BMSCs than in ADSCs. Although ADSCs had a stronger antifibrotic effect, these findings support the consideration of thromboembolism risk in clinical applications. Our results emphasize the importance of deciding between ADSCs and BMSCs based upon the target disease and culture method.