Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which exhibit the property of immune-modulation, have been shown to treat various diseases, including pulmonary hypertension. There is a functional similarity between the pulmonary circulation and the placenta, but it remains to be elucidated whether MSCs can be applied to treat endotoxin-induced hypertension during pregnancy; therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of a human umbilical cord-derived MSC infusion on endotoxin-induced hypertension during pregnancy. Rats were randomly divided into three groups (n=7 per group): Control, endotoxin-treated and endotoxin + MSCs. The model of preeclampsia (PE) was established via the intravenous injection of endotoxin. In the endotoxin + MSCs group, MSCs at 2×106 cells/rat were injected via the vena caudalis. The blood pressure, urine protein and number of white blood cells were measured. In addition, the protein expression levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 were examined by ELISA. The blood pressure, levels of urine protein and number of white blood cells in the endotoxin-treated group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05); however, this increase was significantly attenuated in the endotoxin + MSCs group (P<0.05). In addition, the application of MSCs significantly reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory TNF-α and IL-1β and increased the levels of anti-inflammatory IL-10 in the endotoxin-treated rats. In conclusion, umbilical cord-derived MSCs have a protective effect in an endotoxin-induced model of PE, and this effect is likely elicited through the suppression of inflammatory factors. Umbilical cord-derived MSC-based therapy may provide a potential therapeutic method for endotoxin-induced hypertension during pregnancy.