Curative role of mesenchymal stromal cells in chronic pancreatitis: Modulation of MAPK and TGF-β1/SMAD factors.

Background and objective: Living organisms respond to physical, chemical, and biological threats with a potent inflammatory response which alters organ cell signaling and leads to dysfunction. We evaluated the therapeutic effect of bone marrow-based mesenchymal stromal cell (BM-MSC) transplanted in rats to preserve tissue integrity and to restore homeostasis and function in the pancreatitis experimental pattern.

Methods: This study involved 40 adult male Wister rats. Repeated L-arginine injections caused chronic pancreatitis (CP), leading to the development of pancreatic damage and shifting the intracellular signaling pathways. Rats were then infused with BM-MSC labeled with PKH26 fluorescent linker dye for 12 weeks.

Results: Cell-surface indicators of BM-MSCs such as CD 90 and CD29 were expressed with the lack of CD34 expression. BM-MSC treatment considerably improved the alterations induced in a series of inflammatory markers, including IL-18, TNF-α, CRP, PGE2, and MCP-1. Furthermore, improvement was found in digestive enzymes and lipid profile with amelioration in myeloperoxidase activity. BM-MSC treatment also regulated the (TGF-/p-38MPAK/SMAD2/3) signaling factors that enhances repair of damaged pancreatic tissue, confirmed by reversed alteration of histopathological examination.

Conclusion: our results further bring to light the promise of cell transplant therapy for chronic pancreatitis.