From Hair to Pancreas: Transplanted Hair Follicle Mesenchymal Stem Cells Express Pancreatic Progenitor Cell Markers in a Rat Model of Acute Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is commonly accompanied by intense pain and is associated with high mortality rates. However, the effectiveness of existing therapeutic approaches remains unsatisfactory. Stem cell therapy, which can promote the regeneration of damaged tissue and alleviate systemic inflammatory responses, has brought new possibility for patients suffering from AP. In particular, hair follicle-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HF-MSCs) are proposed as a suitable cell source for treating pancreatic diseases, but further research on their effectiveness, safety, and underlying mechanisms is warranted for clinical implementation. In this work, the therapeutic potential of HF-MSC transplantation was studied in an L-arginine-induced AP rat model. HF-MSCs were extracted from infant Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, expanded , and detected by flow cytometry. HF-MSCs were labeled by PKH67 and transplanted into rats with AP via tail vein injection. Serum specimens were collected at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after transplantation, and the levels of amylase, lipase, and anti-inflammatory factors, namely interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), were analyzed. Pancreas samples were collected and assayed by immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry 1 week after transplantation to monitor the differentiation of HF-MSCs and the functional recovery of the damaged pancreas. Intravenously delivered rat HF-MSCs spontaneously homed to the damaged pancreas and expressed pancreatic progenitor cell markers, relieved inflammation, and boosted pancreatic regeneration. These findings indicate that HF-MSC transplantation is a potentially effective treatment for AP.