The stromal vascular fraction mitigates radiation-induced gastrointestinal syndrome in mice

BACKGROUND: The intestine is particularly sensitive to moderate-high radiation dose and the development of gastrointestinal syndrome (GIS) leads to the rapid loss of intestinal mucosal integrity, resulting in bacterial infiltration, sepsis that comprise patient survival. There is an urgent need for effective and rapid therapeutic countermeasures. The stromal vascular fraction (SVF) derived from adipose tissue is an easily accessible source of cells with angiogenic, anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties. We studied the therapeutic impact of SVF and its action on the intestinal stem cell compartment. METHODS: Mice exposed to the abdominal radiation (18 Gy) received a single intravenous injection of stromal vascular fraction (SVF) (2.5 × 10(6) cells), obtained by enzymatic digestion of inguinal fat tissue, on the day of irradiation. Mortality was evaluated as well as intestinal regeneration by histological analyses and absorption function. RESULTS: The SVF treatment limited the weight loss of the mice and inhibited the intestinal permeability and mortality after abdominal irradiation. Histological analyses showed that SVF treatment stimulated the regeneration of the epithelium by promoting numerous enlarged hyperproliferative zones. SVF restored CD24(+)/lysozyme(−) and Paneth cell populations in the ISC compartment with the presence of Paneth Ki67(+) cells. SVF has an anti-inflammatory effect by repressing pro-inflammatory cytokines, increasing M2 macrophages in the ileum and anti-inflammatory monocyte subtypes CD11b(+)Ly6c(low)CX3CR1(high) in the spleen. CONCLUSIONS: Through the pleiotropic effects that contribute to limiting radiation-induced lethality, SVF opens up attractive prospects for the treatment of emergency GIS. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13287-021-02373-y.