Effect of Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation in a Rat Model of Preeclampsia

Objective: To test the effects of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (HU-MSC) transplantation on reversing preeclampsia (PE) symptoms in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced rat PE model. Methods: Human umbilical cord MSCs were detected, isolated, and cultured. Human umbilical cord MSC transplantation was conducted. Expressions of inflammatory cytokines in serum and placental tissue were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Changes in inflammatory cytokines, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR), laminin receptor 1 (LR1), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2, and MMP-9 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in placental tissue were recorded by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were performed for PPAR detection. Results: The LPS group exhibited increased blood pressure and proteinuria and decreased fetal weight compared to the normal pregnancy (NP) group (all P < .05). The LPS + MSC group presented lowered blood pressure and higher fetal weight than the LPS group (P < .05). The levels of interferon , tumor necrosis factor (TNF-), interleukin (IL) 1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) increased and the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 levels decreased in the LPS group compared to the NP group (all P < .05). Tumor necrosis factor , IL-6, IL-12, and ICAM-1 levels decreased and IL-10 level increased in the LPS + MSC group compared to the LPS group (all P < .05). The LPS-MSC group showed lower mRNA expressions of TNF-, IL-6, MMP-2, MMP-9, and ICAM-1 and higher mRNA expressions of IL-10, PPAR, and LR1 than the LPS group (all P < .05). Conclusion: In summary, HU-MSC transplantation may be extremely beneficial for PE therapy.