Clinicopathological studies on the use of laser-activated adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction in treatment of streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with severe progressive degenerative complications in many organs especially diabetic nephropathy (DN). Adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF) is easily obtained and has abundant viable stem cell number obviating extensive expansion in culture; thus, SVF utilization provides promising anticipation. Low-intensity laser irradiation (LILI) was found to strengthen the therapeutic effect of non-expanded SVF through enhancing viability, protein expression, and migration of stem cells. The current study aimed to demonstrate the effect of transplanted laser-activated SVF in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Forty-five male Sprague Dawley rats were used in this experiment and divided randomly into four groups: (I) control group, (II) diabetic untreated group, (III) and (IV) diabetic-treated groups in which laser-activated SVF transplantation performed as a single and multiple IP injections, respectively, (V) cell tracking group. DM was induced by a single intraperitoneal (IP) injection of STZ at a dose of 55 mg/kg. Rats received single and multiple IP SVF injections, at a dose of 1.5 × 10⁶ nucleated cells/rat on the 7th day of DM induction and a second dose injected in group IV on the 21th day of DM induction (2-week interval). Insulin gene expression quantification; glycemic profile evaluation (blood glucose, C-peptide, and glycosylated hemoglobin); biochemical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical parameters; and microalbuminuria were assessed in all experimental groups. Both SVF-treated groups exhibited improvement in glycemic profile which was confirmed by the significant increase of insulin gene expression and C-peptide levels. Liver transaminases, lipid profile, and microalbuminuria were normalized while serum creatinine and urea concentrations were ameliorated in treated groups compared to diabetic untreated rats. In conclusion, laser-activated SVF transplantation in diabetic rats triggered improvement of the diabetic state and ameliorated some of its complications with regard to the early interference. The second SVF treatment showed more improvement regarding the blood glucose, C-peptide, histopathology, and immunohistochemical results of the pancreas in diabetic states.