Stem Cell Therapy for Intestinal Ischemia-Reperfusion: Current State and Perspectives

Abstract

Stem cell therapy has received significant attention as a novel therapeutic approach to restore intestinal function after ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a catastrophic disease caused by a variety of factors occurring mostly in preterm infants. Although being extensively investigated in the past two decades, there have been no significant advancements in the management of this disease, emphasizing the urge for a novel therapeutic pathway. IR model of intestinal injury has been widely used as an indirect model of NEC, usually conducted by temporary occlusion of the intestinal blood supply. This review aims to illustrate the role of stem cell therapy in promotion of intestinal recovery following IR. Among the many identified stem cells to date, it is likely that mesenchymal and amniotic stem cells would be the most useful and practical cell-based therapies for this purpose. Using acellular components such as exosomes seems a promising technique as well. Future directions of cellular therapy in intestinal IR are currently being explored and might help stimulate future studies on the role of cellular therapy in NEC.