Amniotic fluid stem cell administration can prevent epithelial injury from necrotizing enterocolitis.

Background: Stem cell therapy has been proven to rescue intestinal injury and stimulate intestinal regeneration in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Specifically, stem cells derived from amniotic fluid (AFSCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from bone marrow have shown promising results in the treatment of experimental NEC. This study aims to examine the effects of AFSCs and MSCs on the prevention of intestinal injury during experimental NEC.

Methods: Supernatants from AFSC and MSC cultures were collected to perform proteomic analysis. Prior to NEC induction, mice received intraperitoneal injections of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), 2 × 10 AFSCs, or 2 × 10 MSCs.

Results: We found that AFSCs grew faster than MSCs. Proteomic analysis indicated that AFSCs are primarily involved in cell development and growth, while MSCs are involved in immune regulation. Administering AFSCs before NEC induction decreased NEC severity and mucosal inflammation. Intestinal proliferation and endogenous stem cell activation were increased after AFSC administration. However, administering MSCs before NEC induction had no beneficial effects.

Conclusions: This study demonstrated that AFSCs and MSCs have different protein release profiles. AFSCs can potentially be used as a preventative strategy for neonates at risk of NEC, while MSCs cannot be used.

Impact: AFSCs and MSCs have distinct protein secretory profiles, and AFSCs are primarily involved in cell development and growth, while MSCs are involved in immune regulation. AFSCs are unique in transiently enhancing healthy intestinal epithelial cell growth, which offers protection against the development of experimental NEC. The prevention of NEC via the administration of AFSCs should be evaluated in infants at great risk of developing NEC or in infants with early signs of NEC.