Aim: To explore whether transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) would reduce the immune response and protect vital organs in a rat model of femur shaft fracture combined with craniocerebral injury.
Methods: The rats were divided into an experimental group (multiple traumas and receiving BMSCs injection, n = 25), a positive control group (only received the combination injuries, n = 25) and a negative group (n = 5).
Results: Compared with the positive control group, plasma IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly lower at the early stage, and IL-10 was higher at the late period in the experimental group (p < 0.05). TNF-α ex-vivo synthesis descended quickly after trauma.
Conclusion: BMSCs reduced the inflammatory response and were effective in immunomodulations during severe trauma.
Keywords: bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells; immunomodulations; inflammatory responses; trauma.