Novel application of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells combined with hepatocyte growth factor on subacute vocal fold wound healing.

OBJECTIVES

Vocal fold (VF) scar causes solemn vocal problems for patients with previous surgery or laryngeal injury. It is also a difficult management problem for clinicians since rare superior management methods are available at present. Previous research usually focuses on the acute period of VF wound repairing, with little attention on subacute period intervention. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) combinations that are applied to treat VF wounds are rarely reported. The current study investigated the effects of BMMSCs-HGF application on the regeneration of the VF mucosa during the subacute period.

METHODS

A bilateral wound was generated by forceps in the VF of each New Zealand White rabbit. BMMSCs are based on the acellular dermal matrix as cell carriers. Various compounds (BMMSCs-AMD complex with or without HGF) was injected into the wounded VF at 2- or 4-weeks following injury. Animals were killed at 60 days postinjection. Imaging of excised larynges was performed with the transmission electron microscope (TEM), and Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis was also conducted.

RESULTS

Collectively, 18 rabbits accepted injury modeling, with two of them died before repairing intervention. IHC results indicated that type-I collagen was significantly devalued in the cluster injected with BMMSCs-HGF than simple application of BMMSCs. The results of TEM suggested that the BMMSCs-HGF injection can significantly reduce the collagen score.

CONCLUSION

Our preliminary study suggests opening regenerative effects of intervention for VF subacute scaring, with BMMSCs-HGF.