Potential role of bone marrow-derived cells in the turnover of mesothelium

Background: Bone marrow cell has been proposed as a source of new mesothelium, but supporting evidence is rare. This study examines the validity of this hypothesis by using green fluorescent protein (GFP) and Y-chromosome trackers to identify the presence of donor marrow cells in peritoneal membrane of bone marrow transplant recipient mice. Methods: Cross-gender and GFP-mismatched bone marrow transplantation was undertaken in 20 FVB mice. Five recipients were killed 2, 4, and 6 weeks and 6 months later. Peritoneal tissues were obtained for the detection of GFP and Y chromosome by immunohistochemical staining (IHC) and chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH). Results: GFP cells could be found in the peritoneal membrane of bone marrow transplant recipients. However, the level of engraftment was low, accounting for 0.9%, 0.8%, 0.7%, and 2.2% of the total counted mesothelial cells in intestinal serosa at 2, 4, and 6 weeks and 6 months post-transplantation, respectively. The presence of donor marrow cells within mesothelium was again confirmed by the detection of Y-chromosome-containing cells. Moreover, Y-chromosome cells incorporated within the mesothelium were positively stained by anticytokeratin antibody. Conclusions: Donor marrow cells could attach to mesothelium and exhibit mesothelial marker cytokeratin in bone marrow transplant recipients. This finding suggests that bone marrow-derived cells might participate in the turnover of mesothelium.