APCU25OS15: HUCB-MSCS Secretome & Angiogenesis in Chick Embryos

Introduction Angiogenesis plays an important role in tissue regeneration and wound healing. This study assesses the angiogenic potential of the secretome obtained from Human Umbilical Cord Blood-Mesenchymal Stem Cells (HUCB-MSCs), either by itself or in conjunction with dapagliflozin using the in ovo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model.

Methods A total of four groups were examined: (1) control group, (2) secretome group, (3) dapagliflozin 10 mg/kg group, and (4) secretome + dapagliflozin 10 mg/kg group. Treatments were applied to the CAMs on day 8 of incubation. Quantitative assessments of angiogenesis were performed at 24- and 48-hours post-application (on days 9 and 10), evaluating the percentage change in vascular density and vascular diameter compared to CAM’s baseline. The angiogenic response was measured by analyzing morphological changes in the vascular network using ImageJ software. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine statistical significance among treatment groups.

Results This study was the first to investigate the angiogenic potential of the HUCB-MSCs secretome and its interaction with dapagliflozin using the CAM assay model. Treatment of the CAMs with HUCB-MSCs secretome and the combination of secretome + dapagliflozin induced significant changes in both vascular density (t24: p = 0.0155; t48: p = 0.019) and vascular diameter (t24: p = 0.011; t48: p = 0.007) compared to control group. Conversely, treatment with dapagliflozin alone did not produce a significant increase in vascular density compared to untreated controls. Post hoc analyses further revealed no statistically significant differences among treatment groups, although the highest percentage increases in both vascular density and vascular diameter were observed in the secretome + dapagliflozin group. Collectively, these findings suggest that both the HUCB-MSCs secretome and dapagliflozin promote pro-angiogenic effects, which may be augmented when administered in combination.

Conclusion This study demonstrates the feasibility of using the CAM model for rapid, cost-effective evaluation of proangiogenic agents. The ability of HUCB-MSCs secretome, especially with dapagliflozin, to enhance vascular growth highlights its promise as a therapeutic strategy for ischemic and regenerative medicine. Further in vivo validation studies are warranted to explore the translational potential of these findings in human clinical contexts.