Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The transplantation of bone marrow and autologous peripheral blood stem cells into the muscles of lower limbs of diabetes patients with lower limb ischemia can promote blood vessel regeneration, improve and recover the blood flow of affected limbs of diabetes patients with lower limb ischemia. However, the collection has great risk, and requires high levels in patients’ age, body condition and psychological reception degree. Compared with bone marrow and autologous peripheral blood stem cells, umbilical cord resource is abundant; cell collection is simple; immunogenicity is weak.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility that transplantation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUCMSCs) for treatment of diabetic rabbit of lower limbs extremity arterial. 
METHODS: Models of diabetic rabbits were established. Femoral arteries of lower limbs were ligated. Prepared HUCMSCs in sign of DIL were directly injected into the left hindlimb four-headed thigh muscles in diabetic rabbit models (cell quantity was 1.67×10⁶ per point). Saline was directly injected into right lower limbs. At 2 and 4 weeks, adductor and gastrocnemius nuscle of the bilateral hindlimbs were collected. Angiogenesis of pathological sections was observed. Capillary density and skin temperature were measured using immunohistochemical staining for CD31.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Pathological sections exhibited that collateral vessels were significantly increased in the transplantation group compared with control group. Immunohistochemical staining for CD31 demonstrated that the capillary density was significantly higher in the transplantation group compared with control group. The skin temperature was significantly greater in the transplantation group compared with control group (P ≤ 0.05). Results suggested that HUCMSCs transplantation in the treatment of diabetic rabbit of lower limbs ischemia is an effective measure.