Localized expression of human BMP‐7 by BM‐MSCs enhances renal repair in an in vivo model of ischemia–reperfusion injury

Ischemia and subsequent reperfusion (I/R) damage kidney tubular cells and consequently impair renal function. Rabbit bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM‐MSCs) expressing human bone morphogenic protein‐7 (hBMP‐7) regenerated tubular cells and improved renal function in a kidney I/R model. Rabbits were injected immediately after I/R with one of the following: (i) hBMP‐7‐transduced BM‐MSCs (BM‐MSCshBMP‐7); (ii) enhanced green fluorescent protein–transduced BM‐MSCs (BM‐MSCsEGFP); or (iii) PBS. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was higher, and the amount of malondialdehyde (MDA) was lower in the BM‐MSCshBMP‐7 group than in the BM‐MSCsEGFP group. Both the BM‐MSCshBMP‐7 group and the BM‐MSCsEGFP group had higher SOD activity and lower amounts of MDA than the PBS group. Bcl‐2‐ and Bcl‐2‐associated X protein levels, and other variables, indicated the regeneration of the kidney in both experimental groups. However, the BM‐MSCs hBMP‐7 group showed higher activity than the BM‐MSCsEGFP group, indicating that the combined strategy of BM‐MSC transplantation with hBMP‐7 gene therapy could be a useful approach for the treatment of renal IRI.