Prolongation of Composite Tissue Allotransplant Survival by Treatment with Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Is Correlated with T-Cell Regulation in a Swine Hind-Limb Model

Recently published reports indicate that treatment with mesenchymal stem cells combined with bone marrow transplantation could prolong survival after composite tissue allotransplantation. This study investigated whether bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells combined with irradiation and short-term immunosuppressant therapy, but without bone marrow transplantation, could prolong composite tissue allotransplantation survival. Correlation with regulatory T-cell populations was also evaluated in a swine hind-limb model.