Human Bone Marrow–Derived Clonal Mesenchymal Stem Cells Inhibit Inflammation and Reduce Acute Pancreatitis in Rats

Background & Aims Acute pancreatitis (AP) has a high mortality rate; repetitive AP induces chronic AP and pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have immunoregulatory effects and reduce inflammation. We developed a protocol to isolate human bone marrow–derived clonal MSCs (hcMSCs) from bone marrow aspirate and investigated the effects of these cells in rat models of mild and severe AP. Methods Mild AP was induced in Sprague–Dawley rats by 3 intraperitoneal injections of cerulein (100 μg/kg), given at 2-hour intervals; severe AP was induced by intraparenchymal injection of 3% sodium taurocholate solution. hcMSCs were labeled with CM-1,1′-dioctadecyl-3,3,3′-tetramethylindo-carbocyanine perchloride and administered to rats through the tail vein. Results hcMSCs underwent self-renewal and had multipotent differentiation capacities and immunoregulatory functions. Greater numbers of infused hcMSCs were detected in pancreas of rats with mild and severe AP than of control rats. Infused hcMSCs reduced acinar-cell degeneration, pancreatic edema, and inflammatory cell infiltration in each model of pancreatitis. The hcMSCs reduced expression of inflammation mediators and cytokines in rats with mild and severe AP. hcMSCs suppressed the mixed lymphocyte reaction and increased expression of Foxp3+ (a marker of regulatory T cells) in cultured rat lymph node cells. Rats with mild or severe AP that were given infusions of hcMSCs had reduced numbers of CD3+ T cells and increased expression of Foxp3+ in pancreas tissues. Conclusions hcMSCs reduced inflammation and damage to pancreatic tissue in a rat model of AP; they reduced levels of cytokines and induced numbers of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells. hcMSCs might be developed as a cell therapy for pancreatitis.