Serum-Free Medium Enhances the Immunosuppressive and Antifibrotic Abilities of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Utilized in Experimental Renal Fibrosis.

ABSTRACT: Serum used in culture medium brings risks of immune reactions or infections and thus may hinder using ex vivo expanded mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for medical treatment. Here, we cultured MSCs in a serum-free medium (SF-MSCs) and in a medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum (10%MSCs) and investigated their effects on inflammation and fibrosis. MSC-conditioned medium suppressed transforming growth factor-β1-induced phosphorylation of Smad2 in HK-2 cells, with no significant difference between the two MSCs. This finding suggests that the direct antifibrotic effect of SF-MSCs is similar to that of 10%MSCs. However, immunohistochemistry revealed that renal fibrosis induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction in rats was more significantly ameliorated by the administration of SF-MSCs than by

SUBMITTER: Yoshida K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6265641 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature