The Effect of Stemcell Treatment on Nephrotoxicity Developing After Cyclophosphamide Treatment

This study examines the effects of cyclophosphamide, a cancer treatment that also functions as a cytotoxic agent, on the nephrotic system. The extent to which stem cell applications can be effective in preventing nephrotoxicity caused by agents is also a subject of investigation. The extent to which the nephrotoxic effects detected in the animal model treated with cyclophosphamide can be prevented by stem cell application will be investigated.

A total of 18 Sprague Dawley rats were included in the study, divided into 3 groups. Group 1 consisted of the control group, which received intraperitoneal (IP) saline injection. Group 2-cyclophosphamide and Group 3-cyclophosphamide + stem cell was administered IP cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg cyclophosphamide on the first day and then 8 mg/kg intraperitoneally for 14 days) to create a nephrotoxicity model. Group 3-cyclophosphamide + stem cell also received weekly hUCMSC 10*6 IP for 2 weeks. 4 weeks after the treatment, the animals were euthanized, their kidney tissues were histopathologically and immunohistochemically evaluated, and their blood values were biochemically evaluated.

In histopathological examination, glomerulosclerosis and tubular damage were seen the most in Group 2, and this difference was found to be statistically significant (p<0.001 and p<0.01). However, no statistically significant difference was observed in terms of inflammation in the kidney tissues (p=0.068). No significant change was observed in the biochemically evaluated BUN, creatinine, or urea levels in all three groups (p<0.8; p<0.141; p<0.8).

In light of the current information, human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell (hUC-MCS) has been demonstrated to reduce the nephrotoxicity caused by cyclophosphamide given for cytotoxic purposes on the kidney and exhibit induced renal regeneration. Our findings create new hope for the use of stem cell therapies in the field of kidney diseases.