Stem cells promote healing of experimentally induced ulcer in streptozotocin diabetic rats: histological and immunohistochemical study

Introduction and aim of the study:Diabetic patients with foot ulcers usually manifest with complications. Preliminary evidence supported the effectiveness of stem cell therapy on diabetic foot ulcers. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of stem cells in the healing of experimentally induced wounds in diabetic albino rats. Materials and methods:Thirty male albino rats were divided into three groups, 10 rats each, which were control group, diabetic control group, and diabetic stem cell-treated group. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. A full thickness circular skin wound of approximately 10mm in diameter was performed on the anterolateral side of right legs of all rats. In the diabetic stem cell-treated group, injection of umbilical cord blood-derived CD34 + stem cells into the wound bed was administered. In each group, half of the rats were killed after 1 week and the rest after 2 weeks. The wound areas were obtained and used for histological and immunohistochemical studies. Assessments of wound surface area, epidermal thickness, blood vessel proliferation, and coll agen deposition were made and were statistically analyzed in the different groups. Results:There was a significant decrease in mean wound surface area, increase in mean epidermal thickness, blood vessel proliferation, and collagen deposition in the stem cell-treated group compared with the nontreated diabetic group. Conclusion:Treatment of wounded diabetic rats with CD34 + enriched cells accelerated wound healing through enhanced revascularization of the wounds compared with diabetic controls.