The effects of umbilical cord Wharton jelly derived mesenchymal stem cells injection on diabetic wound healing in male rats

Background: The number of patients suffering from diabetic ulcers has been increased in recent years and the current therapies have faced failure. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Wharton’s jelly stem cells (WJMSCs) on the diabetic wound in an animal mode. Methods: During this laboratory experimental study carried out in Skin and Stem Cells Research Center from March 2021 to November 2021, WJMSCs were isolated and their differentiation capability to osteocytes and adipose cells was assessed using the colorimetric method, and the expression of specific markers was evaluated using flow cytometry. 12 male Wistar rats weighing 200 to 250 grams were purchased from the Pasteur Institute and kept in the animal room in standard condition. Streptozotocin was used to induce diabetes in male Wistar rats. Animals were divided to control (normal saline injection: n=6) and WJMSCs injection (n=6) groups. Wounds with 0.8 cm in diameter were made on the back of rats. After subdermal injection of normal saline and WJMSCs, wound healing was evaluated 7, 14 and 21 days using the photography method. Data were analyzed using a t-test and analysis of variance. Results: The results showed that the isolation process should be performed no later than a few hours after the cesarean section. Storing the sample for one day or more caused sample contamination leading to significant failure in cell proliferation and differentiation. WJMSCs were positive for specific mesenchymal stem cell markers (CD44, D73, CD90 and CD 105, and negative for CD45 and CD 34. They were capabale to differentiate into osteocytes and adipose cells and had a high viability rate (83.1%). Subdermal injection of WJMSCs in diabetic rats resulted in acceleration of diabetic wound healing compared with the control group. Conclusion: Subdermal injection of WJMSCs can effectively accelerate diabetic wound healing. According to which, applying Wharton’s jelly stem cells can be considered in cell therapy particularly in the field of diabetic wound healing.