Anti-inflammatory effect of adipose-derived stem cells in the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effect of recombinant human connective tissue growth factor (hCTGF) on rat adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and explored the feasibility of using ADSCs to treat pelvic organ prolapse. METHODS: ADSCs were isolated from rat inguinal adipose tissue and characterized by flow cytometry and for osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation. ADSCs were treated with recombinant hCTGF and qRT-PCR was performed to detect collagen I and III expression on post-treatment days 7, 14, and 28. Osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of ADSCs was performed to evaluate the effect of hCTGF. ADSCs were seeded in biological grafting materials, acellular porcine pericardium (APP) and acellular bovine pericardium (ABP), then implanted in the rat vagina. Histology was performed to observe inflammation among different groups. RESULTS: Collagen I and III expression in ADSCs was significantly increased, and the ability to differentiate into osteogenic and adipogenic lineages was diminished after hCTGF treatment. APP and ABP seeded with ADSCs significantly decreased inflammation and protected from degradation in vivo compared with APP and ABP only; ABP seeded with ADSCs had the lowest inflammation. CONCLUSION: hCTGF regulates collagen I and III expression and induces ADSC differentiation in vitro. ADSCs decrease inflammation associated with APP and ABP in vivo.