Intravenously Injected Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Cells Form Fetomaternal Vasculature and Prevent Miscarriage in Mouse

Cell Transplant. 2020 Jan-Dec:29:963689720970456. doi: 10.1177/0963689720970456.

Abstract

Miscarriage is the most common complication of pregnancy, and about 1% of pregnant women suffer a recurrence. Using a widely used mouse miscarriage model, we previously showed that intravenous injection of bone marrow (BM)-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) may prevent miscarriage. However, preparing enough BM-derived EPCs to treat a patient might be problematic. Here, we demonstrated the generation of mouse pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), propagation of sufficient PSC-derived cells with endothelial potential (PSC-EPs), and intravenous injection of the PSC-EPs into the mouse miscarriage model. We found that the injection prevented miscarriage. Three-dimensional reconstruction images of the decidua after tissue cleaning revealed robust fetomaternal neovascularization induced by the PSC-EP injection. Additionally, the injected PSC-EPs directly formed spiral arteries. These findings suggest that intravenous injection of PSC-EPs could become a promising remedy for recurrent miscarriage.

Keywords: cellular therapy; embryonic stem cells; endothelial progenitor cells; induced pluripotent stem cells; stem cell therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Habitual / prevention & control*
  • Animals
  • Endothelial Progenitor Cells / cytology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / physiology
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells / cytology*