The free fatty acid metabolome in cerebral ischemia following human mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in rats

Background Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the potential to promote brain repair and improve recovery following stroke. We investigated changes in free fatty acids (FFAs) following intravenous human MSC (hMSC) transplantation into rats that had undergone transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo). Methods Rats were subjected to 2-hours MCAo, followed by intravenous transplantation of hMSC or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at one day after MCAo. All rats were sacrificed 5 days after MCAo. Metabolic profiling of free fatty acids (FFAs) level was assessed in plasma and brain from control rats (n = 8), PBS-treated MCAo rats (n = 6), and hMSC-treated MCAo rats (MCAo + hMSC, n = 6). Results The levels of some FFAs in plasma and brain samples of the MCAo and MCAo + hMSC groups were significantly different from those of the control group. The percentage composition of myristic acid in plasma and those of myristic acid, linoleic acid, and eicosenoic acid in brain tissues of the MCAo + hMSC group were significantly reduced compared to those in the untransplanted MCAo group. Conclusion Our metabolic approach has provided insights into understanding the complexity of biochemical and physiological events that occur in ischemic brain injury and the transplantation effects of MSCs in stroke.