The HO-1-expressing bone mesenchymal stem cells protects intestine from ischemia and reperfusion injury

Background Bone mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSC) showed protective potential against intestinal ischemia. Oxygenase-1(HO-1) could alleviate oxidative stress. In the present study, we constructed HO-1-expressing BMSC and detected the effects of it on survival, intestinal injury and inflammation following intestinal ischemia and reperfusion injury (I/R). Methods In this experiment, eighty adult male mice were divided into Sham, I/R, I/R + BMSC, I/R + BMSC/HO-1 groups. Mice were anesthetized and intestinal I/R model were established by temporarily occluding the superior mesenteric artery for 60 min with a non-crushing clamp. Following ischemia, the clamp was removed and the intestines were allowed for reperfusion. Prior to abdominal closure, BMSC/ HO-1 (2 × 10 6 cells) or BMSC (2 × 10 6 cells) were injected into the peritoneum of I/R mice respectively. Mice were allowed to recover for 24 h and then survival rate, intestinal injury and inflammation were determined. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) was assayed by fluorescent probe. TNFα and IL-6 were assayed by ELISA. Results BMSC/HO-1 increased seven day survival rate, improved intestinal injury and down-regulated inflammation after intestinal I/R when compared with sole BMSC ( p < 0.05 respectively). Multiple pro-inflammatory media were also decreased following application of BMSC/HO-1, when compared with sole BMSC ( p < 0.05) respectively, suggesting that BMSC /HO-1 had a better protection to intestinal I/R than BMSC therapy. Conclusion Administration of BMSC/HO-1 following intestinal I/R, significantly improved intestinal I/R by limiting intestinal damage and inflammation.