Contributions to the Use of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Skin Transplantation Repair in Rabbits
The use of full-thickness skin graft to repair defects is often common in some situations. The aim of this work was to evaluate the viability of fresh allograft skin in rabbits, using as an immunomodulatory agent, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC), associated or not to cyclosporine. To design the experiment, 20 New Zealand White rabbits, males, 6 months old and mean body weight of 3 kg, were randomly divided into four experimental groups. Group A: transplant performed only. Group B: application of MSC on days -1, 0, 3, 7 and 10, always associated with the use of cyclosporine. Group C: only the application of MSC in the same periods as the previous group. Group D: only injectable cyclosporine. Biopsies were performed when there were clinical signs of rejection. Group B showed the lowest rate of graft survival, with 7.2 days (±3.49). Group C showed an 11.4 days (±3.58) rejection, while group D rejected the graft after 9.0 days (±1.22). Finally, group A rejected their grafts only after 13.0 (±1.41) days. Interleukins were evaluated in groups A, B and C, and at this point the use of cyclosporine associated with MSC seems to have been beneficial by inhibiting some of these factors. It can be concluded that both the application of cyclosporine as well as the halogen MSCs were not able to increase skin graft survival when administered alone. The two therapies, when used in an associated manner, caused a faster rejection of transplanted tissue.