Effect of CXCR3/HO-1 genes modified bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on small bowel transplant rejection

AIM To investigate whether bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) modified with the HO-1 and CXCR3 genes can augment the inhibitory effect of BMMSCs on small bowel transplant rejection. METHODS Lewis rat BMMSCs were cultured in vitro. Third-passage BMMSCs were transduced with the CXCR3/HO-1 genes or the HO-1 gene alone. The rats were divided into six groups and rats in the experimental group were pretreated with BMMSCs 7 d prior to small bowel transplant. Six time points (instant, 1 d, 3 d, 7 d, 10 d, and 14 d) (n = 6) were chosen for each group. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe pathologic rejection, while immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to detect protein expression. Flow cytometry was used to detect T lymphocytes and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect cytokines. RESULTS The median survival time of BMMSCs from the CXCR3/HO-1 modified group (53 d) was significantly longer than that of the HO-1 modified BMMSCs group (39 d), the BMMSCs group (26 d), and the NS group (control group) (16 d) (P < 0.05). Compared with BMMSCs from the HO-1 modified BMMSCs, BMMSCs, and NS groups, rejection of the small bowel in the CXCR3/HO-1 modified group was significantly reduced, while the weight of transplant recipients was also significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Furthermore, IL-2, IL-6, IL-17, IFN-γ, and TNF-α levels were significantly decreased and the levels of IL-10 and TGF-β were significantly increased (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION BMMSCs modified with the CXCR3 and HO-1 genes can abrogate the rejection of transplanted small bowel more effectively and significantly increase the survival time of rats that receive a small bowel transplant.