Clinical Application Value Of Stem Cell Therapy For Ovarian Rejuvenation

Stem cells are a type of self-renewing pluripotent cells that can regenerate various tissues and organs under certain conditions. Studies have shown that stem cell therapy for ovarian rejuvenation is a therapeutic method that can repair damaged ovarian tissue, restore ovarian elasticity, and reduce ovarian tissue fibrosis. Mesenchymal stem cell therapy, as a kind of regenerative stem cell therapy for ovarian rejuvenation, can promote angiogenesis and cell proliferation, reduce cell apoptosis and regulate cellular immune function.

Therefore, in-depth study of its mechanism of action has become a research hotspot at home and abroad in recent years, and stem cell therapy for ovarian rejuvenation provides a new strategy.

Main stem cell types

(1) Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells: derived from bone marrow, are the earliest stem cells discovered. BMSCs transplantation can significantly increase the number of follicles and granulosa cells in the ovary of POF mice, and promote the recovery of ovarian tissue.

(2) Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells: In some experiments, ADMSCs were transplanted into female rats with damaged ovarian function. The results showed that ADMSCs can effectively repair the damaged ovarian function, which may be achieved by inhibiting the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway of granulosa cells.

(3) Human placental mesenchymal stem cells: Zheng Qiaoni et al. studied the effect of hPMSC transplantation on the activity of related factors in the process of ovarian function repair in rats. The experiments showed that hPMSC transplantation had antioxidant and ovarian function repair effects on POF model rats. The mechanism may be related to the activator signaling pathway.

(4) Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells: Numerous studies have shown that hUC-MSCs have different repairing mechanisms in different damaged tissues, mainly manifested in the following two aspects: one is to differentiate into specific cells to replace and repair The second is to secrete various cytokines through the paracrine pathway to promote repair, thereby improving ovarian reserve function and delaying ovarian dysfunction. Zhuang Yaqiong et al. investigated the effect of hUCM-SCs on ovarian function in POF model rats. The results showed that hUCM-SCs transplantation had a certain repairing effect on ovarian structure and function, and could repair the endocrine function of the ovary.

The mechanism of action of stem cell therapy for ovarian rejuvenation

Homing

The reason why mesenchymal stem cells from different transplantation routes can treat and restore the function of target organs depends to a large extent on their ability to migrate to damaged target organs, that is, homing.

Promote proliferation

Proliferation is the most important life feature of an organism. Promoting the proliferation of various ovarian cells, especially ovarian granulosa cells, and activating follicle function are also important ways to treat premature ovarian failure. Only when the number of granulosa cells increases and the number of follicles at all levels recovers can the ovarian function gradually recover.

Inhibit apoptosis

Ovarian granulosa cells are located outside the zona pellucida of oocytes and are important functional cells of the ovary. They secrete estrogen under the action of follicle stimulating hormone and other cytokines, and are connected to oocytes through gap junctions to nourish oocytes and support.

Differentiation

Whether the therapeutic effect of mesenchymal stem cells is mainly paracrine or differentiation has been the focus of academic debate, but it is certain that differentiation is an important part of the therapeutic effect of mesenchymal stem cells.

Autocrine and paracrine

Autocrine and paracrine effects are also considered to be important mechanisms of mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of premature ovarian failure. Growth factors secreted by mesenchymal stem cells, such as vascular endothelial growth factor and hepatocyte growth factor, have been shown to play an important role in restoring ovarian function.

Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory

We co-cultured allogeneic adipose mesenchymal stem cells with peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with premature ovarian failure, and demonstrated that adipose mesenchymal stem cells play an immunomodulatory role by up-regulating Treg cell proliferation.

Regulatory genes

After stem cells migrate to target organs, in addition to directional differentiation, they also mediate the expression of DNA and RNA in tissues, exert epigenetic functions, and promote the self-repair of damaged tissues.

Regulate autophagy

Autophagy is a process by which cells self-degrade, and cells remove damaged or redundant proteins, organelles, and foreign pathogens through autophagy to maintain cell function. Under physiological conditions, autophagy maintains cellular homeostasis, and under short-term stress, it promotes the ability of cells to survive and divide.

To sum up, stem cells have the potential of self-renewal and multi-directional differentiation. It promotes the regeneration and functional recovery of ovarian tissue and achieves the purpose of intervening in premature ovarian failure through strong cell regeneration and repair and immune regulation functions. Stem cell therapy for ovarian rejuvenation is a promising treatment option.