2022, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (31): 4940-4945

Hydrogel combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of damaged endometrium in rats

Lyu Yan1, Guan Yongge2, Song Yang1, Li Yue1   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: As a scaffold material for tissue engineering, hydrogels provide a good physical support for the proliferation and differentiation of transplanted cells in vivo.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of hydrogel combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on endometrial reproduction in rats.
METHODS: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of Sprague-Dawley rats were isolated, cultured, and labeled with CM-Dil and were prepared for Pluronic F-127-bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells complex. A total of 30 Sprague-Dawley rats aged 8 weeks old were randomly divided into sham operation group, model group, hydrogel group, stem cell group, and complex group. Except for the sham operation group, endometrial mechanical injury models were established in the other four groups and each uterine horn was injected with 0.2 mL of PBS, Pluronic F-127 hydrogel, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell suspension, and Pluronic F-127 hydrogel-bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell suspension, respectively. After 7 days of observation, the uterus tissues were removed for hematoxylin-eosin staining, immunfluorescence staining, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Compared with the sham operation group, the endometrial thickness of the rats was thinner in the model group, hydrogel group, stem cell group, and complex group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the endometrial thickness of hydrogel, stem cell, and complex groups was significantly improved (P < 0.05). The complex group had the most obvious effect, while there was no significant difference between hydrogel group and stem cell group (P > 0.05). (2) Compared with stem cell group, the number of stem cells labeled with CM-Dil migrated to the endometrium was more in the complex group (P < 0.01) and both groups had the potential to differentiate into endometrial stromal cells. (3) Compared with the model group, the levels of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor α were significantly decreased in the endometrium of the hydrogel, stem cell, and complex groups (P < 0.01). The levels of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor α were significantly lower in the stem cell and complex groups than those in the hydrogel group (P < 0.05). The levels of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor α were lower in the stem cell group than those in the complex group (P < 0.01); however, there were no significant differences in interleukin-1β levels between the two groups (P > 0.05). (4) The results suggest that Pluronic F-127 combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells is feasible for the treatment of endometrial injury and provides new ideas for endometrial repair.
Key words: hydrogel, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell, tissue repair, endometrial injury, tissue engineering