Mesenchymal Stem Cells with Irreversibly Arrested Proliferation Stimulate Decidua Development in Rats

Stem cell transplantation, which is based on the application of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs), is a rapidly developing approach to the regenerative therapy of various degenerative disorders characterized by brain and heart failure, as well as skin lesions. In comparison, the use of stem cell transplantations to treat infertility has received less attention. One of the causes of miscarriages and fetal growth delay is the loss of the decidual reaction of endometrial cells. The present study modeled decidualization processes in pseudopregnant rats. For cell transplantation experiments, the rats were transplanted with MSCs established from endometrial fragments in menstrual blood (eMSCs). These cells express common MSC markers, are multipotent and are able to differentiate into various tissue lineages. Cell therapy frequently requires substantial cell biomass, and cultivation of MSCs may be accompanied by significant changes to their properties, including malignant transformation. In order to minimize the potential for malignant transformation, the proliferation of eMSCs was irreversibly suppressed by irradiation and mitomycin C treatment. Transplantation of the rats with viable, non-proliferating eMSCs stimulated the development of all elements of decidual tissue. Conversely, transplantation of the rats with cells killed using 95% ethanol did not result in the development of decidual tissue. The present study demonstrated the potential for applying eMSCs to the cellular therapy of infertility associated with endometrial disorders characterized by decidualization insufficiency and implantation failure. In addition, the transplantation of viable but non-proliferating cells ensured that their oncogenic potential was limited.