Respiratory Research (Feb 2010)

Modulation of cytokine and nitric oxide by mesenchymal stem cell transfer in lung injury/fibrosis

  • Won Jong-Ho,
  • Lee You-Kyoung,
  • Park Seong-Kyu,
  • Jung Seok,
  • Kim Tae-Hoon,
  • Cha Ji-Yeon,
  • Kim Young-Eun,
  • Jang An-Soo,
  • Lee Shin-Hwa,
  • Kim Yong-Hoon,
  • Park Choon-Sik

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1465-9921-11-16
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1
p. 16

Abstract

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Abstract Background No effective treatment for acute lung injury and fibrosis currently exists. Aim of this study was to investigate the time-dependent effect of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMDMSCs) on bleomycin (BLM)-induced acute lung injury and fibrosis and nitric oxide metabolites and inflammatory cytokine production. Methods BMDMSCs were transferred 4 days after BLM inhalation. Wet/dry ratio, bronchoalveolar lavage cell profiles, histologic changes and deposition of collagen were analyzed. Results Nitrite, nitrate and cytokines were measured weekly through day 28. At day 7, the wet/dry ratio, neutrophilic inflammation, and amount of collagen were elevated in BLM-treated rats compared to sham rats (p = 0.05-0.002). Levels nitrite, nitrate, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, TGF-β and VEGF were also higher at day 7 (p p in situ hybridization localized the engrafted cells to areas of lung injury. Conclusion Systemic transfer of BMDMSCs effectively reduced the BLM-induced lung injury and fibrosis through the down-regulation of nitric oxide metabolites, and proinflammatory and angiogenic cytokines.