EFFICACY OF MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS IN THE TREATMENT OF GASTRIC ULCERS IN RATS: A HISTOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY

Background: Peptic ulcer is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders. Although proton pump
inhibitors (PPIs) are regarded as the drugs of choice for the treatment of gastric ulcer, they may induce
several adverse effects. Therefore, new alternative safer therapy is required. Recent studies have shown
that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) accelerate the regeneration of ulcerated gastric mucosa.
Aim of work: The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of MSCs in the treatment of gastric ulcer, and
to compare their efficacy to that of the standard PPIs therapy.
Material and methods: The work was performed on 40 adult albino rats, divided into four groups: Group 1
(Control group), Group 2 (Ulcer group), Group 3 (MSCs-treated group) and Group 4 (Omeprazole-treated
group). The gastric mucosa was examined for: histopathological changes by light microscope in sections
stained with hematoxylin and eosin and for expression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and insulin-like
growth factor (IGF) by image analyzer in sections stained immunohistochemically.
Results: MSCs-treated group revealed improvement of histological structure and restoration of the normal
architecture of the gastric mucosa. Omeprazole-treated group demonstrated similar results to that of MSCstreated
group. HGF and IGF immunostaining area percent were significantly higher in MSCs-treated group
and Omeprazole-treated group when compared to ulcer group.
Conclusion: These results confirm the efficacy of MSCs in the treatment of gastric ulcer which was
comparable to that of the PPI omeprazole.