Exploration of eMSCs with HA-GEL system in repairing damaged endometrium after endometrial cancer with fertility-sparing treatment

• Published in: Cell and tissue research Vol. 394; no. 2; pp. 379 - 392
• Main Authors: Liu, Wei, Hao, Mengxin, Xu, Yuhui, Ren, Xiaojun, Hu, Jiali, Wang, Lulu, Chen, Xiaojun, Lv, Qiaoying
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.11.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal models; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cytotoxicity; Endometrial cancer; Endometrium; Fertility; Human Genetics; Hyaluronic acid; Hydrogels; Kidneys; Mesenchymal stem cells; Molecular Medicine; Pregnancy; Progestin; Proteomics; Regular Article; Safety; Transplantation; Tumorigenesis; Xenografts; Endometrum-derived mesenchymal stem cells; Hyaluronic acid hydrogel; Endometrial regeneration; Endometrial cancer; Fertility-sparing treatment
• DOI: 10.1007/s00441-023-03831-0
• ISSN: 0302-766X

Despite the high complete response rate of fertility-sparing treatment in early-stage endometrial cancer (EC), the low pregnancy rate is a clinical challenge. Whether endometrium-derived mesenchymal stem cells (eMSCs) can repair damaged endometrium after EC reversal remains unclear. This study explored the potential therapeutic effects of eMSCs with suitable scaffold materials on endometrial damage caused by EC. Here, appropriate engineering scaffold materials were compared to identify the most suitable materials to carry eMSCs. Then, safety and efficacy evaluations of eMSCs with a suitable hyaluronic acid hydrogel (eMSCs/HA-GEL) were investigated in in vivo experiments with subcutaneous xenotransplantation in Balb/C nude mice and a model of endometrial mechanical injury in rats. HA-GEL has minimal cytotoxicity to eMSCs compared to other materials. Then, in vitro experiments demonstrate that eMSCs/HA-GEL enhance the inhibitory effects of progestins on EC cell biological behaviors. eMSCs/HA-GEL significantly inhibit EC cell growth and have no potential safety hazards of spontaneous tumorigenesis in Balb/C nude mouse subcutaneous xenotransplantation assays. eMSCs/HA-GEL intrauterine transplantation effectively increases endometrial thickness and glandular number, improves endometrial blood supply, reduces fibrotic areas, and improves pregnancy rates in a rat endometrial mechanical injury model. GFP-eMSCs/HA-GEL intrauterine transplantation in rats shows more GFP-eMSCs in the endometrium than GFP-eMSCs transplantation alone, and no tumor formation or suspicious cell nodules are found in the liver, kidney, or lung tissues. Our results reveal the safety and efficacy of eMSCs/HA-GEL in animal models and provide preliminary evidence for the use of eMSCs/HA-GEL as a treatment for EC-related endometrial damage.