Transplanted Hair Follicle Mesenchymal Stem Cells Alleviated Small Intestinal Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury via Intrinsic and Paracrine Mechanisms in a Rat Model

Hair follicle mesenchymal stem cells (HFMSCs) were found to alleviate small intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in a rat model by homing to damaged sites, differentiating into intestinal stem cells (ISCs), and promoting angiogenesis through increased levels of ANG1, VEGF, and IGF1. HFMSCs also reduced apoptosis by modulating Bcl-2 and Bax expression, decreased oxidative stress by lowering MDA and increasing SOD levels, and protected the intestinal mucosal barrier as indicated by elevated DAO levels. These findings suggest HFMSCs as a promising treatment for small intestinal IR injury.