Bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells regress aortic aneurysm via the NF-kB, Smad3 and Akt signaling pathways

Background aims We have confirmed that aortic aneurysm (AA) can be regressed by the administration of bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs). We investigated the kinetics of signaling pathways in AA following treatment with BM-MSCs. Methods Angiotensin II-infused apolipoprotein E–deficient mice were treated by intravenous injection of 1 × 10⁶ BM-MSCs in 0.2 mL saline (BM-MSCs group, n = 5) or 0.2 mL saline (saline group, n = 5). Mice were sacrificed 2 weeks after injection and subjected to measurements of the incidence of AA and levels of phosphorylated proteins. Levels of proteins in conditioned media of BM-MSCs were also measured. Results The incidence of AA in the BM-MSCs group was reduced (BM-MSC 40% versus saline 100%, P < 0.05). Levels of pNF-kB and pSTAT1 were reduced (pNF-kB: 0.28 versus 0.45 unit/mL, P < 0.05, pSTAT1: 0.16 versus 0.34, P < 0.05), whereas levels of pAkt and pSmad3 were elevated (pAkt: 0.13 versus 0.07, P < 0.01, pSmad3: 1.07 versus 0.47, P < 0.05) in the BM-MSCs group. The levels of pNF-kB, pAkt, and pSmad3 were correlated with aortic diameters. Trophic factors including IGFPB-3, NRF, Activin A and PDGF-AA were secreted from BM-MSCs (IGFBP-3: 35.2 pg/mL, NRF: 3.1 pg/mL, Activin A: 3.1 pg/mL, PDGF-AA: 0.45 pg/mL). Conclusions Our findings suggested that the therapeutic mechanism of BM-MSC–mediated AA regression could contribute to regulation of the NF-kB, Smad3 and Akt signaling pathways. In addition, paracrine actions by factors including NRF, IGFBP-3, Activin A and PDGF-AA might have affected these signaling pathways.