Anti-inflammatory effects of human amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation on rats with chronic pancreatitis

Background: There is no effective therapy to suppress the progression of chronic pancreatitis. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are valuable cell source in regenerative medicine due to their anti-inflammatory effects. MSCs are abundant in and can be easily isolated from fetal membrane, especially amnion. In this study, we investigated anti-inflammatory effects of human amnion-derived MSCs (hAMSCs) on rats with chronic pancreatitis.Methods: The effect of hAMSCs on the inflammatory reaction of pancreatic acinar cells (AR42J) and pancreatic stellate cells (hPSC5) were investigated in vitro. Chronic pancreatitis was induced by intravenous injection of 5mg/kg dibutyltin dichloride and hAMSCs (1.0 * 10⁶ cells) were transplanted intravenously at Day 6. Rats were sacrificed at day 14, and histological analyses and quantitative RT-PCR were performed.Results: hAMSC-conditioned medium protected pancreatic acinar cells from apoptosis and necrosis, and ameliorated pancreatic acinar cells injury. hAMSCs-conditioned medium significantly reduced MCP-1 and IL-8 production from pancreatic stellate cells activated by tumor necrosis factor-α. Human AMSCs transplantation significantly decreased the expression of MCP-1 and attenuated the downregulation of amylase expression in the pancreas. Pancreatic fibrosis tended to be reduced by human AMSC transplantation. Conclusions: Transplantation of AMSCs significantly improved the rat model of chronic pancreatitis, possibly through the inhibition of pancreatic stellate cells activation, and by the suppression of acinar cells injury.