2022, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (30): 4793-4799

Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells improve pregnancy outcomes of spontaneous abortion mouse models by promoting vascular endothelial growth factor expression in decidua

Zhao Xinxin, Yang Xiaoqing, Zhang Yuquan   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Early spontaneous abortion is related to the disorder or abnormality of blood vessel formation at the maternal-fetal interface. Human umbilical cord Wharton’s jelly-mesenchymal stem cells can migrate to the injured site and promote angiogenesis. However, the effect of human Wharton’s jelly- mesenchymal stem cells on decidual stromal cells has not been studied yet.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of human Wharton’s jelly-mesenchymal stem cells on proliferation and apoptosis of decidual stromal cells from early spontaneous abortion women and vascular endothelial growth factor expression, and to explore its effect on the pregnancy outcome of early spontaneous abortion mice.
METHODS: (1) Early spontaneous abortion and artificial abortion decidual tissues were separated and cultured. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and western blot assay were utilized to detect the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in decidua tissue. (2) The third passage of human umbilical cord Wharton’s jelly-mesenchymal stem cells and primary spontaneous abortion decidual stromal cells were co-cultured for 72 hours. EdU and Annexin V-FITC were applied to detect the proliferation and apoptosis of decidual stromal cells, respectively. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and western blot assay were used to detect the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in decidual stromal cells. (3) After reproducing the CBA/J×DBA/2 spontaneous abortion mouse model, human umbilical cord Wharton’s jelly-mesenchymal stem cell suspension 0.1 mL (cell concentration: 1×1010 L-1) was transplanted into the tail vein at 1, 3, and 5 days after pregnancy. The embryo absorption rate was calculated at 14 days of pregnancy. ELISA was used to detect the level of vascular endothelial growth factor in peripheral blood. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and western blot assay were employed to detect the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in decidua tissue.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Compared with normal decidua tissue, expression of vascular endothelial growth factor was significantly downregulated in the decidua during human early spontaneous abortion. (2) Human Wharton’s jelly-mesenchymal stem cells increased vascular endothelial growth factor expression, promoted proliferation, and inhibited apoptosis in human abortion decidual stromal cells. (3) Human Wharton’s jelly-mesenchymal stem cells promoted the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in the decidua of spontaneous abortion mice and reduced embryo absorption of the abortion prone mouse model. (4) In summary, a certain amount of Human Wharton’s jelly-mesenchymal stem cells transplanted can increase vascular endothelial growth factor levels in decidua and improve the outcome of the abortion prone mouse model.
Key words: spontaneous abortion, vascular endothelial growth factor, decidual stromal cells, human Wharton’s jelly-mesenchymal stem cells, abortion prone mouse model