Vol. 44 (3): 608-616, May – June, 2018

doi: 10.1590/S1677-5538.IBJU.2017.0324

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Abdol-Mohammad Kajbafzadeh 1, Shabnam Sabetkish 1, Nastaran Sabetkish 1
1 Pediatric Urology and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Section of Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells Therapy, Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To identify the fetal stem cell (FSC) response to maternal renal injury with emphasis on renal integrity improvement and Y chromosome detection in damaged maternal kidney.

Materials and Methods: Eight non-green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgenic Sprague- Dawley rats were mated with GFP-positive transgenic male rats. Renal damage was induced on the right kidney at gestational day 11. The same procedure was performed in eight non-pregnant rats as control group. Three months after delivery, right ne­phrectomy was performed in order to evaluate the injured kidney. The fresh perfused kidneys were stained with anti-GFP antibody. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was also performed for the Y chromosome detection. Cell culture was performed to detect the GFP-positive cells. Technetium-99m-DMSA renal scan and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) were performed after renal damage induction and 3 months later to evaluate the improvement of renal integrity.

Results: The presence of FSCs was confirmed by immune histochemical staining as well as immunofluorescent imaging of the damaged part. Gradient PCR of female rat purified DNA demonstrated the presence of Y-chromosome in the damaged maternal kidney. Moreover, the culture of kidney cells showed GPF- positive cells by immuno­fluorescence microscopy. The acute renal scar was repaired and the integrity of dam­aged kidney reached to near normal levels in experimental group as shown in DMSA scan. However, no significant improvement was observed in control group.

Conclusion: FSC seems to be the main mechanism in repairing of the maternal renal injury during pregnancy as indicated by Y chromosome and GFP-positive cells in the sub-cultured medium.

Keywords:  Fetal Stem Cells; Y Chromosome; Technetium Tc 99m Dimercaptosuccinic Acid; Green Fluorescent Proteins

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