Mesenchymal stem cells effectively reduce surgically induced stenosis in rat carotids

Restenosis following vascular injury remains a pressing clinical problem. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) promise as a main actor of cell‐based therapeutic strategies. The possible therapeutic role of MSCs in vascular stenosis in vivo has been poorly investigated so far. We tested the effectiveness of allogenic bone marrow‐derived MSCs in reduction of stenosis in a model of rat carotid arteriotomy. MSCs were expanded in vitro retaining their proliferative and differentiation potentiality. MSCs were able to differentiate into adipocyte and osteocyte mesenchymal lineage cells, retained specific antigens CD73, CD90, and CD105, expressed smooth muscle alpha‐actin, were mainly in proliferative phase of cell cycle and showed limited senescence. WKY rats were submitted to carotid arteriotomy and to venous administration with 5 × 106 MSCs. MSCs in vivo homed in injured carotids since 3 days after arteriotomy but not in contralateral uninjured carotids. Lumen area in MSC‐treated carotids was 36% greater than in control arteries (P = 0.016) and inward remodeling was limited in MSC‐treated carotids (P = 0.030) 30 days after arteriotomy. MSC treatment affected the expression level of inflammation‐related genes, inducing a decrease of IL‐1β and Mcp‐1 and an increase of TGF‐β in injured carotids at 3 and 7 days after arteriotomy (P