Safety of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells in C57BL/6 mice

Abstract

hUC-MSCs are multipotent stem cells found in the endothelial layer beneath the umbilical cord sheath, the perivascular area, and Wharton’s jelly. hUC-MSCs are notable for their ability to modulate immunity, low immunogenicity due to the lack of HLA-DR activity, and low MHC class I expression. We isolated and cultured these stem cells in an antibiotic- and FBS-free medium before transplanting them into C57BL/6 mice to assess the safety of therapy. hUC-MSCs (3x10⁵ cells/mouse) were infused into nine mice via the tail vein. Following a successful infusion, the mice’s health was evaluated at predetermined intervals. Mouse organs such as the brain, heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, and tissues at the injection site were obtained 21 days after the infusion to analyze carcinogenesis and tissue fibrosis; blood and urine samples were collected to examine biochemical markers and blood cell composition. Transplantation of hUC-MSCs by tail vein infusion first showed good safety in mice, paving the path for therapeutic cell therapy applications.