Mesenchymal stem cells’ therapeutic potential for endotoxin-induced brain and spleen injuries in rats

Abstract

Background and objective Inhalation of bacterial endotoxin induces an acute inflammation in various organs, especially the brain and spleen. This study examined the therapeutic effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced brain-spleen injuries in rats as compared with dexamethasone. Materials and methods A total of 32 male Wistar albino rats, weighing 180–200 g, were used in the study and were divided into four groups. Group 1 (normal) rats received 20 μl of saline in each nostril for two consecutive days. Group 2 animals received LPS (20 μl of LPS of Escherichia coli in each nostril for 2 consecutive days) that induced brain-spleen injuries and served as a positive control group. Group 3 animals were injected with dexamethasone (2 mg/kg, once, intraperitoneal). Group 4 animals received (1×106) BM-MSCs in 500 μl PBS/rat via intraperitoneal injection once before acute injury induction with LPS. At the end of the experiment, the authors studied the sickness behavior by assessing open field behavior and measured oxidative and inflammatory parameters. Results and conclusion LPS-induced open field behavior impairments (decreased locomotion and rearing and increased immobility), with elevation of a number of inflammatory cells, especially neutrophils. Moreover, LPS-induced elevation of lipid peroxidation along with reduction of both reduced glutathione and superoxide dismutase in brain and spleen tissues and increased interleukin-1β and myeloperoxidase contents in rats, compared with normal group. These harmful effects were hindered after treatment with MSCs. In conclusion, MSCs prevented both sickness and depressive-like behavior via neuroinflammatory pathway and could be a novel approach to therapy for LPS-induced serious injuries in rats but needs further clinical studies.