Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2023, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (24): 3892-3900.doi: 10.12307/2023.686

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Transamniotic stem cell therapy: a novel strategy for prenatal treatment of multiple congenital diseases

Cheng Xi1, Sun Baolan2, Xie Yuanyuan1, Zhang Yuquan1   

  1. 1Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu Province, China; 2Department of Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu Province, China
  • Received:2022-09-06 Accepted:2022-10-27 Online:2023-08-28 Published:2023-01-19
  • Contact: Zhang Yuquan, PhD, Professor, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu Province, China
  • About author:Cheng Xi, PhD candidate, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu Province, China
  • Supported by:
    Postgraduate Research and Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province, No. KYCX21_3118 (to XYY); Postgraduate Research and Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province, No. KYCX20_2799 (to CX)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Advances in prenatal diagnosis have made it possible to prenatal management and treatment of various congenital diseases. Transamniotic stem cell therapy has emerged as a new strategy for prenatal treatment of congenital anomalies.  
OBJECTIVE: To review the results of studies using transamniotic stem cell therapy in the prenatal treatment of various congenital diseases.
METHODS: Databases of CNKI, VIP, WanFang and PubMed were searched from the inception to August 1, 2022. The keywords were “transamniotic stem cell therapy”, “transamniotic”, “intra-amniotic”, “stem cells” or “TRASCET” in English and Chinese. Finally, a total of 61 articles on transamniotic stem cell therapy were included for review.  
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Transamniotic stem cell therapy can be used to treat fetal abnormalities by fully magnifying the biological function of stem cells in amniotic fluid under physiological or pathological conditions. (2) Specific stem cells infused into amniotic cavity can not only be directly disseminated to defects exposed to amniotic fluid, but also be transported to placenta, amnion, chorion, umbilical cord, fetal bone marrow, spleen, hip bone and brain. (3) Intra-amniotic infusion of mesenchymal stem cells remarkably promoted tissue repair and/or significantly ameliorated adverse effects associated with major congenital abnormalities. For example, transamniotic stem cell therapy can induce partial or complete coverage of experimental spina bifida by forming new skin. Transamniotic stem cell therapy can also alleviate the bowel damage associated with gastroschisis; at the same time, transamniotic stem cell therapy can also affect lung development in experimental congenital diaphragmatic hernia and significantly diminish the thickness of pulmonary arteriole wall. Transamniotic stem cell therapy can reverse the adverse effects of intrauterine growth restriction in rats, including significantly improving placental efficiency and increasing fetal weight. (4) Transamniotic stem cell therapy has shown good therapeutic potential in congenital disease models such as spina bifida, gastroschisis, congenital diaphragmatic hernia and intrauterine growth restriction. However, there is no clinical report on transamniotic stem cell therapy so far, and it is necessary to further verify the effectiveness and safety of transamniotic stem cell therapy in large animals before clinical transformation. (5) Although transamniotic stem cell therapy is still in its infancy, its potential in prenatal treatment of fetal congenital diseases deserves further study.

Key words: transamniotic stem cell therapy, prenatal treatment, congenital disease, birth defect, amniotic fluid stem cell, placental stem cell, review

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