Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor enhances the therapeutic efficacy of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in rats with experimental acute pancreatitis

INTRODUCTION: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is one of the most common diseases involving necrotic inflammation. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) have the potential of multi-directional differentiation and self-renewal for tissue repair. It remains less clear if granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) can improve the therapeutic effect of BMMSC transplant in AP. Therefore, we explored this issue in a rat model of experimental AP. RESULTS: Transplanted PKH26-positive BMMSCs were present in the injured pancreatic tissue, with some cells co-expressed pancreatic cellular markers, including Pax-4, Ngn3 and Nkx-6. Pathological, biochemical and serological data suggested an improvement in histological and functional recovery in these animals relative to control. Overall, the AP model rats received BMMSCs and G-CSF co-treatment showed better recovery in terms of tissue regeneration and blood biochemical levels relative to other groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: BMMSCs from donor rats were labeled with the fluorescent dye PKH26 and transfused into recipient rats with AP induced by L-arginine. The animals were divided into a control group, and groups treated with BMMSCs, G-CSF, and BMMSCs together with G-CSF. Therapeutic effects were evaluated histologically with immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence, together with biochemical measurement of pancreatic markers. CONCLUSION: G-CSF therapy with BMMSC transplantation improves histological and functional outcomes in rats with experimental AP.