Abstract
PURPOSE: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a leading cause of gastrointestinal morbidity and mortality in premature infants. While studies have shown potential for stem cell (SC) therapy in experimental NEC, no study has compared different SC side-by-side. Our purpose was to determine whether one type of SC may more effectively treat NEC than others. METHODS: Four SC were compared: (1) amniotic fluid-derived mesenchymal SC (AF-MSC); (2) amniotic fluid-derived neural SC (AF-NSC); (3) bone marrow-derived mesenchymal SC (BM-MSC); and (4) neonatal enteric neural SC (E-NSC). Using an established rat model of NEC, pups delivered prematurely received an intraperitoneal injection of SC. Control pups were injected with PBS. Additional controls were breast-fed by surrogates and not subjected to experimental NEC. Intestinal tissue was graded histologically. RESULTS: NEC incidence was: PBS, 61.3%; breast-fed unstressed, 0%; AF-MSC, 19.1%; BM-MSC, 22.9%; AF-NSC, 18.9%; E-NSC 22.2%. All groups demonstrated statistical significance (p<0.05) compared to controls, and there was no difference between SC groups. CONCLUSION: All four SC groups reduced the incidence and severity of experimental NEC equivalently. AF-MSC may be preferable because of availability of AF at delivery and ease of expansion, increasing potential for clinical translation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: V (Animal study).