Effects of Transplanting Bone Marrow Stromal Cells Transfected with CXCL13 on Fracture Healing of Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Background/Aims: Diabetic fracture have poor treatment and serious complications. Therefore, how to treat diabetic fracture is receiving increasing attention. This study aimed to investigate the effects of transplanting CXCL13-stimulated bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) on the fracture healing in diabetic rats. Methods: In vitro, RT-PCR was employed to examine the expression of CXCL13 in BMSCs in high glucose environment. MTT assay and apoptosis assay were utilized to determine the effects of CXCL13 overexpression on the proliferation and apoptosis of BMSCs respectively. ALP staining was applied to detect the ALP activity. In vivo, CXCL13-stimulated BMSCs were transplanted into the fracture sites of diabetic rats. At the 1 st week, 2 nd weeks, 4 th week and 6 th week after the operation, bone mineral density (BMD) and callus area measurement, ELISA detection, and HE staining were performed to evaluate the fracture healing. Results: Low BMD and less area of callus in diabetic rats showed that the recovery after fracture was worse in diabetic rats than in non-diabetic rats. Meanwhile, the expression of CXCL13 in serum was lower in diabetic rats than in non-diabetic rats. Overexpression of CXCL13 promoted the proliferation of BMSCs in vitro high glucose environment. After BMSCs transfected with CXCL13 being transplanted into the fracture sites of diabetic rats, it was found that the fracture healing was enhanced and ALP expression in serum became higher. HE staining results further verified the effects of transplantation of BMSCs transfected with CXCL13 on fracture healing in diabetic rats. Conclusion: These finding indicated that CXCL13 may play a critical role in the process of fracture healing, which could provide a deeper insight into molecular targets for the fracture healing in diabetic people.