Pharmaceutics (Jul 2021)

Tailored Hydrogels as Delivery Platforms for Conditioned Medium from Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a Model of Acute Colitis in Mice

  • Juan Sendon-Lago,
  • Lorena Garcia-del Rio,
  • Noemi Eiro,
  • Patricia Diaz-Rodriguez,
  • Leandro Avila,
  • Luis O. Gonzalez,
  • Francisco J. Vizoso,
  • Roman Perez-Fernandez,
  • Mariana Landin

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics13081127
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 8
p. 1127

Abstract

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Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is increasingly prevalent and current therapies are not completely effective. Mesenchymal stem cells are emerging as a promising therapeutic option. Here, the effect of local hydrogel application loaded with conditioned medium (CM) from human uterine cervical stem cells (hUCESC-CM) in an experimental acute colitis mice model has been evaluated. Colitis induction was carried out in C57BL/6 mice by dissolving dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in drinking water for nine days. Ulcers were treated by rectal administration of either mesalazine (as positive control) or a mucoadhesive and thermosensitive hydrogel loaded with hUCESC-CM (H-hUCESC-CM). Body weight changes, colon length, and histopathological analysis were evaluated. In addition, pro-inflammatory TNF-α, IL-6, and IFN-γ mRNA levels were measured by qPCR. Treatment with H-hUCESC-CM inhibited body weight loss and colon shortening and induced a significant decrease in colon mucosa degeneration, as well as TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-6 mRNA levels. Results indicate that H-hUCESC-CM effectively alleviated DSS-induced colitis in mice, suggesting that H-hUCESC-CM may represent an attractive cell-free therapy for local treatment of IBD.

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