Effect of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell conditioned medium on tissue repair after traumatic craniocerebral injury in miniature pigs

doi:10.12307/2025.981

Abstract

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury is a common condition with a high incidence rate, high disability rate, and high mortality rate. Currently, there is a lack of effective treatment methods. Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells provide a new research direction for the treatment of traumatic brain injury through paracrine pathways.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic effect of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell conditioned medium on traumatic brain injury caused by external force in miniature pigs.
METHODS: Twelve healthy miniature pigs were selected and randomly divided into a model group and an experimental group, with six pigs in each group. A traumatic brain injury model was established through external force. In the experimental group, after modeling, umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell conditioned medium was injected into four points around the brain injury site using a micro-injection pump for treatment. From postoperative day 1 to day 14, the spatial memory ability of the miniature pigs was evaluated. On postoperative day 5, magnetic resonance imaging scans were used to assess brain tissue injury/edema. On postoperative day 14, the brain tissue at the injury site of miniature pigs was examined for hematoxylin-eosin staining, glial fibrillary acid protein and Iba1 immunohistochemical staining, and TUNEL staining to evaluate the injury and repair of the brain tissue of of miniature pigs.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) There was no statistically significant difference in spatial memory ability scores between the experimental group and the model group (P > 0.05). (2) On postoperative day 5, both the model group and the experimental group showed significant brain tissue edema signals, but the range of edema in the experimental group was reduced compared with the model group. (3) On postoperative day 14, the brain tissue at the injury site in the model group showed edema, congestion, and necrosis, with necrotic brain tissue visible under hematoxylin-eosin staining. The brain tissue edema at the injury site in the experimental group was less severe than that in the model group. (4) Both model and experimental groups showed positive expression of glial fibrillary acid protein and Iba1 at the injury site, but the positive expression levels of glial fibrillary acid protein and Iba1 in the experimental group were lower than those in the model group. (5) TUNEL staining showed positive expression of apoptotic cells at the injury site, with a lower expression level of apoptotic cells in the experimental group compared with the model group. These findings indicate that umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell conditioned medium exerts a therapeutic effect on traumatic brain injury in miniature pigs by reducing brain tissue edema, lowering brain tissue inflammation, and alleviating cell apoptosis.

Key words: umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell, conditioned medium, secretome, craniocerebral injury, neural repair, neuroinflammation, miniature pig, engineered stem cell

CLC Number:

Cui Lianxu, Li Haomin, Xu Junrong, Tan Baodong, Lu Dahong, Peng Siwei, Wang Jinhui. Effect of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell conditioned medium on tissue repair after traumatic craniocerebral injury in miniature pigs [J]. Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research, 2026, 30(7): 1730-1735.

Figures/Tables 6

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