Evaluation of adverse reactions in dogs following intravenous mesenchymal stem cell transplantation

Abstract

BackgroundRecent studies have assessed the therapeutic potential and drawbacks of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The adverse reactions of intravenous transplantation of bone marrow (BM)-derived MSCs were examined at varying doses and frequencies of administration.Nine healthy beagle dogs were purchased from a commercial laboratory. The dogs were distributed equally (n = 3 per group) and randomly into three groups. All dogs received allogeneic BM-derived MSCs: 2 × 106 once (group A), 2 × 107 once (group B), and 2 × 106 for three consecutive days (group C). Various laboratory examinations, multi-detector computed tomography features and histopathology were evaluated to clarify the clinical and diagnostic features of adverse reactions of MSCs administration, prior to receiving MSCs (pre procedure) and on days 1, 3, and 7 post transplantation.ResultsOnly one dog had clinical signs during and after MSCs transplantation. Dogs receiving 2 × 106 MSCs showed increased numbers of lymphocytes but the total white blood cell counts were not elevated (P < 0.01). Multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) revealed pulmonary parenchymal changes in one dog and histopathologic examination revealed pulmonary parenchymal edema and hemorrhage in four dogs. The presence of pulmonary thromboembolism was not detected in either examination.ConclusionsWe considered the presence of pulmonary edema and hemorrhage as possible adverse reactions after intravenous MSCs transplantation; however these results should be cautiously interpreted.