The Effect of Intralesian Injection of Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Its Conditioned Medium, and Triamcinolone Acetonide on Type 1:3 Collagen Ratio and Interleukin-10 Levels in Keloid: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Overview

The objective of this study is to observe the potency of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSC) and umbilical cord-derived conditioned medium (UC-CM), or triamcinolone acetonide (TA) in keloid therapy, measured by the decrease in the type 1:3 collagen ratio and the increase of IL-10 levels carried out using CONSORT statement.

Screening of patients were done by measuring keloid dimensions using a ruler. Patients meeting the inclusion criteria were then randomly divided into 3 groups. The same injection volume (1 ml) in every cm3 keloid volume was given using a 1 mL syringe and 27G needle to the subjects. Ultrasound guidance was used to administer the injection using an in-plane technique into the center of the lesion, with inclinations of 30-45 degrees, ensuring uniform pressure in every subject. Group 1 was given UC-MSC 2 million cells/mL/cm3, group 2 receives UC-CM 1mL/cm3 while group 3 was administered TA 40 mg/mL/cm3. In order to obtain UC-MSC and UC-CM, 10 cm of umbilical cord tissue was collected in 50 mL transport medium containing the following substances: amphotericin B (Final concentration 7500 ng/ml \[JR Scientific 50701\]), alpha minimal essential medium (MEM \[GIBCO 12000-022 1\]), penicillin/streptomycin (final concentration 300 U/ml \[Gibco 15140-122\]). Samples were then processed within 8 hours of collection. The umbilical cord was then dissected, briefly washed in 0.5% povidone-iodine (betadine ©) with phosphate buffered saline of pH 7.4 (PBS \[Sigma P3813\]), and then washed in PBS to remove betadine and blood. The umbilical vessels were excised before the umbilical cord was minced into a complete medium. UC-CM was created using Alpha-MEM and Dulbecco's modified Eagles medium (DMEM \[GIBCO 31600-034\]). The finalized complete medium contains 1% L-glutamine (Lonza 17-605C), 10% TC (Indonesian Red Cross), amphotericin B (final concentration 2500 ng/ml), and penicillin/streptomycin (final concentration 100 U/ml). Supplementation of culture with 10% autologous or allogeneic cord blood serum and 10% human AB serum (Gibco 34005-100) was done to create MEM. Each well of a 12-well plate (growth are 3.8 cm2 \[Biolite\]) was filled with three explants (diameter 2-5 mm) and Wharton's Jelly, followed by addition of several drops of complete medium. Triplication of culture was done to each medium. The plate was incubated at 37°C and 5% CO2 and observed daily for contamination or cellular growth, in which the contaminated wells were removed. After the explants was attached, addition of 200-500 µL of appropriate medium was done. Medium changes, involving removal of half of the medium and addition of half of each medium, were performed every 2-3 days. Growth of the cells beyond the explants with 90% confluence marks viability for harvesting using TrypLE Select (GIBCO 12563-011). Dye exclusion method was used to count the viable/non-viable cell yield. After each harvest, with the explant still attached to the plate, new appropriate medium was added with the plate being re-incubated at 37°C and 5% CO2. Similar treatment was repeated for the second and subsequent cultures, enabling multiple harvests from a single explant. Biopsies of the keloid tissues were then conducted twice, in the first meeting and 17 weeks after. Parameters to be evaluated in anatomic pathology examination are Sirius red staining to evaluate collagen structure under a polarizing lens, as well as In Vitro quantitative examination using the ELISA method to examine IL-10. Calculation of changes in the ratio of type 1 to type 3 collagen levels was carried out by dividing the ratio of collagen before treatment from the ratio of collagen after each treatment. When visualized under a polarizing lens, type-3 collagen will appear green-birefringence and type-1 collagen will appear yellow-birefringence. The collagen ratio was obtained by dividing the composition of collagen type 1 to collagen type 3 in Sirius red staining under polarizing lenses.