The effect of endometrial stem cells with pompalidomide on oxidative stress, inflammation and ERK expression in 6-OHDA induced Wistar rat model of Parkinson

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder of aging that no effective treatment for this disease has been identified so far. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of human endometrial stem cells with pomalidomide as an anti-inflammatory drug on Oxygen reactive species (ROS), C-reactive protein (CRP) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) gene expression.

Forty male rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (8 animals in each group) control, Parkinson's and 3 experimental Parkinson's groups receiving stem cells (100,000 cells), pomalidomide (4mg/kg/day) and a combination of stem cells and pomalidomide. Induction of Parkinson's disease was performed by injection of 6-hydroxy dopamine (concentration 6 μg) in the striatum by stereotaxic method. At the end of day 28 after treatment, blood samples were prepared from all groups and the desired factors were measured and statistically analyzed.

The results showed a significant decrease in ROS, CRP and ERK gene expression in the treated groups compared with the Parkinson's group (P <0.05). Also, the comparison of the mentioned factors between the control group and Parkinson's group showed a significant increase in Parkinson's group (P <0.05).

Considering the improvement of the measured factors in Parkinson's rats, allogeneic stem cells can be used as a potential source in future research along with pomalidomide for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.