Collagen Scaffold Augments the Therapeutic Effect of Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a Rat Model of Intrauterine Adhesion.

Intrauterine adhesion (IUA) caused by endometrial injury is the most common cause of female uterine infertility. Current treatments offer limited clinical benefits. In this study, we investigated the role of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) loaded collagen scaffold in the regeneration of injured human endometrium in an IUA rat model. Following the construction of the IUA rat model by mechanical injury, collagen scaffold, hUCMSCs, or hUCMSCs-loaded collagen scaffold was transplanted. The implantation of hUCMSCs-loaded collagen scaffold significantly increased the thickness of the endometrium, the number of endometrial glands and the abundance of blood vessels in IUA rats. Moreover, hUCMSCs-loaded collagen scaffold treatment significantly reduced endometrial fibrosis, increased the expression of Vegf, Integrin β3, Lif, and Igf-1, and finally improved endometrial receptivity in IUA rats. Taken together, our observations suggest that hUCMSCs-loaded collagen scaffold could be a practical therapeutic for treating IUA and restoring regeneration.