Stromal cell-derived factor 1 promoted migration of adipose-derived stem cells to the wounded area in traumatic rats

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) were effective in treating wound. Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), a chemokine usually called CXCL12, is well known for its chemotaxis in induction of cell migration. However, little is known about the SDF-1responsible for the complex migration of ADSCs from residence to injured sites.

Herein, we firstly showed SDF-1 is a major regulator involved in migration of ADSCs during wound repair in vivo.

Trauma in rats was induced by surgical operation. The levels of SDF-1 in wounded tissue were assayed by ELISA. ADSCs were labeled with Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP), and then were transferred to injured rats by intracarotid injection. The plasma levels of ADSCs during wound healing were detected by flow cytometry, and ADSCs in injured tissue were evaluated by bioluminescence imaging in vivo and laser confocal microscopy (LCM), respectively.

ADSCs were successfully labeled with GFP. SDF-1 level reached to the peak value on 24 h after injury and then decreased continuously. Additionally, levels of plasma ADSCs in SDF-1 treated rats reached to the peak value (12%) at d21 after medicine delivery, while those of normal and injured rats showed the peak values of 6.28% and 9.84% at d7 and d21, respectively. Finally, the results of LCM indicated treatment of ectogenic SDF-1 obviously enhanced GFP-ADSCs distribution in wounded tissues.

Our results indicated that SDF-1 treatment obviously promoted the migration and directed distribution of ADSCs in traumatic tissue.