Human placental mesenchymal stromal cell therapy restores the cytokine efflux and insulin signaling in the skeletal muscle of obesity-induced type 2 diabetes rat model

Obesity poses a significant risk factor for the onset of metabolic syndrome with allied complications, wherein mesenchymal stem cell therapy is seen as a promising treatment for obesity-induced metabolic syndrome. In the present study, we aim to explore the beneficial effects of the human placental mesenchymal stromal cells (P-MSCs) on obesity-associated insulin resistance (IR) including inflammation. To understand this, we have analyzed the peripheral blood glucose, serum insulin levels by ELISA, and the glucose uptake capacity of skeletal muscle by a 2-NBDG assay using flow cytometry in WNIN/GR-Ob rats treated with and without P-MSCs. Also, we have studied insulin signaling and cytokine profile in the skeletal muscle by western blotting, dot blotting, and Multiplex-ELISA techniques. The skeletal muscle of WNIN/GR-Ob rats demonstrates dysregulation of cytokines, altered glucose uptake vis-a-vis insulin signaling. However, P-MSCs’ treatment was effective in WNIN/GR-Ob rats as compared to its control, to restore HOMA-IR, re-establishes dysregulated cytokines and PI3K-Akt pathway in addition to enhanced Glut4 expression and glucose uptake studied in skeletal muscle. Overall, our data advocate the beneficial effects of P-MSCs to ameliorate inflammatory milieu, improve insulin sensitivity, and normalize glucose homeostasis underlining the Ob-T2D conditions, and we attribute for immunomodulatory, paracrine, autocrine, and multipotent functions of P-MSCs.