The effect of mesenchymal stem cell therapy on ischemia– reperfusion-induced injury of the rat pancreas: a histological and immunohistochemical study

Background: Ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury plays an important role in the development of acute pancreatitis; both ischemia and reperfusion contribute to tissue loss and organ dysfunction. I/R is also reported to be one of the reasons for the inflammatory reaction occurring in grafted tissue. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells capable of self-renewal and differentiation into various cell lineages. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the role of MSC therapy on I/R-induced injury of the pancreas in albino rats. Materials and methods: The present study was performed on three groups. Group I was the control group. Group II was the I/R group in which the pancreases of rats were exposed to ischemia for 30 min after which they were reperfused for 90 min; these rats were then sacrificed 1 week (group IIa) and 4 weeks (group IIb) after reperfusion. Group III was the stem cell-treated group in which rats were exposed to I/R and then injected intravenously with MSCs; they were then sacrificed 1 week (group IIIa) and 4 weeks (group IIIb) after reperfusion. Pancreatic sections were stained with H E, CD105, and insulin. Results were statistically analyzed. Results: I/R caused changes in the form of cellular vacuolations and apoptotic changes involving the pancreatic acini. Immunohistochemical staining for insulin was markedly decreased, becoming almost absent by the fourth week. Treatment with MSCs was associated with PKH 26-labeled cells within the exocrine and endocrine portion of the pancreas. Also, CD105-positive cells were detected between the acini and within the stroma in between. The cells in the treated subgroups restored their normal appearance and regained positivity for insulin immunoreactivity.