Administration of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells After the Onset of the Disease Does Not Lower the Levels of Inflammatory Cytokines IL1 and IL6 in a Rat Model of Necrotizing Enterocolitis

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Research on the roles of stem cells in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) has primarily focused on the effects of bone marrow- and amniotic fluid-derived stem cells in mitigating the clinical manifestations of the disease. However, the potential of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) remains unexplored in this context. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of ADSC administration during the active inflammatory phase of NEC, with a specific focus on reducing the levels of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1 and IL-6. <b>Methods</b>: A self-modified hypoxia-hypothermia-formula feeding rat NEC model was employed. A total of 117 rat pups were divided into two groups: a treatment group (NEC-ADSC, n = 55) and a control group (NEC-PLCB (placebo), n = 62). In the NEC-ADSC group, ADSCs were administered intraperitoneally 24 h into the NEC protocol. After 72 h, bowel and fluid samples were collected for analysis. <b>Results</b>: The analysis revealed no significant effect on NEC histopathology (<i>p</i> = 0.347) or on the levels of IL-1 and IL-6 (<i>p</i> = 0.119 and <i>p</i> = 0.414, respectively). <b>Conclusions</b>: The administration of adipose tissue-derived stem cells after the onset of necrotizing enterocolitis does not reduce the levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-1 and IL-6, nor does it influence the histopathological outcomes of the disease in the rat model. Further research is needed to explore the potential therapeutic role of adipose tissue-derived stem cells in the treatment of necrotizing enterocolitis.