Mesenchymal stem cell infusion on skin wound healing of dexamethasone immunosuppressed wistar rats

Abstract

ABSTRACT: To evaluate the therapeutic contribution of MSC intravenous infusion to surgical wound healing in dexamethasone-immunosuppressed rats, thirty-five rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: in the Control Group (CG), five rats received normal saline as 0.2ml subcutaneous (SC) injections every 24 hours, for 30 consecutive days and, in the Dexamethasone Group (DG), 30 rats were given 0.2mL subcutaneous dexamethasone (0.1mg kg-1) every 24 hours, for 30 consecutive days. After 30 days, all rats underwent surgery to create an experimental skin wound. The 30 animals of the DG group were divided into two equal groups, which received different treatments: the dexamethasone group (DG) received a single application of 0.5ml normal saline, via the intravenous route (IV), 48 hours after wound creation; and the Mesenchymal Stem Cells Dexamethasone group (MSCDG) received MSC transplantation at a concentration of 9x106 cells in a single IV application, 48 hours after wound creation. The surgical wounds of CG rats closed on average 14.75 days after creation and DG rats had wounds closed within 22 days; whereas, the surgical wounds of MSCDG rats were closed in 14 days. MSC infusion in dexamethasone-immunosuppressed patients contributed positively to epithelial healing in less time.