Effect of Co-injection of Endothelial Progenitor Cells and Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Reducing Systemic Inflammatory Response in Sepsis Induced by Escherichia coli Lipopolysaccharide in Mouse Model

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have useful effects in treatment of sepsis, but the effects of co-injection of EPC and MSC for the treatment of sepsis have not yet been investigated. This study investigated the therapeutic effect of MSC+EPC in reducing the systemic inflammatory response in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced sepsis in mice.

In this experimental study, mouse bone marrow MSCs and EPCs were isolated and their surface markers were investigated using flow cytometry. Four groups of mice (n= 12 per group) were included in the study. The control group had no treatment, group II received LPS intraperitoneally, group III received PBS buffer after LPS inoculation, and group IV received EPCs+MSCs after LPS inoculation. The serum and tissue levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10, and the serum levels of CRP and hepatic enzymes were determined by commercial kits. One-way ANOVA and post hoc test were used for comparison between groups.

The surface markers of MSCs and EPCs were confirmed by flow cytometry. The co-injection of MSC+EPC significantly decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (P<0.001), increased the concentration of anti-inflammatory cytokines (P<0.001), and increased the survival rate (P<0.01). Mice treated with MSC+EPC represented a significant decrease in liver enzymes (P<0.05), pulmonary edema (P<0.01), and CRP level (P<0.05) compared to the mice with LPS-induced sepsis.

Co-injection of MSC and EPC leads to a reduction of the inflammatory response. This study provides promising results for the treatment of sepsis.