Stem cells against blood clots

Siberian scientists are investigating the ability of stem cells to restore blood flow

"Science in Siberia" Photos provided by Igor Mayborodin

Scientists of the Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS have established the ability of stem cells to restore blood flow in thrombosed limbs. The details are published in the journals "Cell Technologies in Biology and Medicine" and "Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine".

The application of the results of the study may make it possible to more successfully treat such a complication of varicose veins of the lower extremities as phlebothrombosis, to achieve rapid recovery of patients after stroke and other diseases associated with thrombotic vascular damage over a long period.

Scientists have found out that if you "turn off" a large vessel and smaller ones adjacent to it in a large complex of tissues, and then inject stem cells into the site of the lesion, blood flow in the limb will recover faster due to the formation of new vessels formed from these stem cells.

The study was conducted on rats in which a large main vessel (femoral vein) and a whole region of small ones around it were thrombosed by introducing thrombin. Within a week, several vessels have formed in the animals, functionally replacing the affected vein. Stem cells for injection were taken from rats of the same lineage – genetically identical, like identical twins. The introduction of stem cells from such individuals is similar to the introduction of their own and eliminates the possibility of rejection of the vessel tissue formed from them.

In order to monitor the process of vascular formation, scientists labeled stem cells with transfection of the GFP gene, a deep–sea jellyfish protein that glows when irradiated with ultraviolet light.

– We label the cells to detect them later – fluorescence is clearly visible under the microscope. Usually, several smaller vessels are formed, completely replacing the "switched off" femoral vein in function, volume and diameter," explained Igor Valentinovich Mayborodin, chief researcher of the Stem cell laboratory of the IHBFM SB RAS, Professor, Doctor of Medical Sciences.

During a five-week observation of experimental rats, it was found that the replacement of injected cells with their own begins approximately in the third week. The formed vessels remain at the same time, but the stem cells that formed their walls gradually change to their own, the glow of the marker in ultraviolet disappears.

The results of an experiment to restore blood flow in a thrombosed vein were patented in 2012. In continuation of this study, an experiment was recently conducted when a ligature was applied to the femoral vein of a rat – simply a vessel was tied up and stem cells were injected again.

It turned out that in this case, the functions of the femoral vein are taken over by the surrounding neighboring vessels, and stem cells help to form a scar faster at the site of ligation. It will probably be possible to use it for the rapid recovery of patients after injuries and operations.

– If stem cells are injected into the incision site during any operation, the development of granulations will occur faster – an extensive network of small vessels, cleaning the wound from non-viable tissues and scar formation. Now we are working to reduce the scar and increase the rate of its formation when various organs are damaged. This will allow patients to return to working capacity sooner, – said Igor Mayborodin.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru  06.06.2017