Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) without specific surface antigens are often identified according to adhesive growth, osteogenic differentiation, adipogenic differentiation and other biological characteristics.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the location and distribution of BMSCs in IgA nephropathy rats. 
METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: BMSCs group, saline group and control group. IgA nephropathy model was established by the improving method with bovine serum albumin+staphylococcal enterotoxin B+subcutaneous injection of carbon tetrachloride in the former two groups. At the 1st and 4th weeks after BMSCs injection, the changes of urine protein, renal function, histopathology and IgA immunofluorescence were observed. BrdU-labeled BMSCs were detected by immunohistochemistry to observe the disposition in the kidney.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: At the end of the first week of BMSCs transplantation, levels of urine protein and serum creatinine in the BMSCs group were lower than those in the saline group. At the end of the 4th week, the histopathology and IgA immunofluorescence of BMSCs group had the statistical significance compared with those of the saline group. It was indicated that BMSCs injection contributed to renal repair in rat IgA nephropathy. Some of them located in the mesangium and a few were in tubule and interstitial area. But as time passed, the disposition of BrdU-labeled MSCs in kidney was decreased gradually.