Enhancement of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy by Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA) in Streptozotocin Diabetic Rats

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a complex state characterised by insulin failure that is frequently linked to glycosuria, hypoinsulinemia and hyperglycemia. The goal of this research was to assess if Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA), a bone marrow stem cells mobilizer (StemEnhance®; SE), could enhance the curative effectiveness of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM‑MSCs) for treating streptozotocin diabetes in male rats. Group (1): the control, rats were provided with only one intraperitoneal (i.p.) dosage of citrate buffer (5 ml/kg b.wt.). Group (2): rats were given AFA (270 mg/kg b.wt.) orally by gavage, daily for four weeks. Group (3): diabetic group, STZ was treated intraperitoneally into rats at a dose of 45 mg/kg b.wt. Group (4): diabetic rats obtained a single i.p dosage of BM-MSCs (2×106 cells/animal) via the tail vein. Group (5): diabetic rats treated with BM-MSCs and AFA at identical doses, administration route and treatment durations as those used in the previous groups. Data of this study showed that BM-MSCs transplantation to diabetic rats increased absolute weight of pancreas, increased serum insulin level and improved blood glucose. BM-MSCs decreased MDA level and increased SOD and GSH. Also, BM-MSCs significantly inhibited the upregulation of caspase-3 activity, while enhancing the expression of Bcl-2. Furthermore, BM-MSCs decreased NF-кB, while increased IL-10. Additionally, BM-MSCs ameliorated the histopathological and ultrastructural integrity of pancreatic tissue in diabetic rats. However. Combined therapy with AFA and BM-MSCs significantly improved the therapeutic efficacy of BM-MSCs alone in combating diabetes in male rats.