Amelioration of postoperative cognitive dysfunction in mice by mesenchymal stem cell-conditioned medium treatments is associated with reduced inflammation, oxidative stress and increased BDNF expression in brain tissues.

Objective: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are widely used in regeneration and repair of various tissues and organs, and whether MSC-conditioned medium (MSC-CM) has protective effects in postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) remains largely unknown. We aimed to assess the therapeutic effect and explore the mechanisms of MSC-CM therapy in a POCD mouse model.

Methods: Sixty C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to 3 groups: control, POCD and POCD + MSC-CM. The POCD mouse model was established by left liver lobectomy. While mice in the control group were sham-operated, mice in the POCD + MSC-CM group were immediately administrated with MSC-CM after operation. The Morris water maze was used to determine cognitive function of mice at 1, 3, and 7 days after operation. The levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and malondialdehyde in brain tissues at 3 days after operation were assessed by ELISA, while the protein level of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was determined by western blot.

Results: Left liver lobectomy induced POCD in mice resulted in decrease of cognitive function, increase of brain IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and malondialdehyde levels, and decreased BDNF expression, while administration of MSC-CM significantly reversed these changes.

Conclusion: MSC-CM ameliorates POCD in mice, and its protective roles are associated with reduced levels of inflammatory factors, attenuated oxidative stress, and increased BDNF expression.