Using Stem Cells to Treat Lung Injury in Mice
Author Information
Author(s): Mei Shirley H. J, McCarter Sarah D, Deng Yupu, Parker Colleen H, Liles W. Conrad, Stewart Duncan J
Primary Institution: University of Toronto
Hypothesis
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), with or without transfection with the vasculoprotective gene angiopoietin 1 (ANGPT1), would have beneficial effects in experimental acute lung injury (ALI) in mice.
Conclusion
Treatment with MSCs alone significantly reduced LPS-induced acute pulmonary inflammation in mice, while administration of pANGPT1-transfected MSCs resulted in a further improvement in both alveolar inflammation and permeability.
Supporting Evidence
- MSCs significantly reduced LPS-induced pulmonary inflammation.
- MSCs transfected with pANGPT1 resulted in nearly complete reversal of lung permeability increases.
- Fluorescently tagged MSCs were detected in lung tissues up to 3 days after injection.
Takeaway
Scientists used special cells from mice to help heal lung injuries caused by bacteria, and found that adding a specific gene made the treatment even better.
Methodology
MSCs were delivered through the right jugular vein of mice after inducing lung injury with lipopolysaccharide (LPS).
Limitations
The LPS-induced model of ALI cannot fully reproduce the complexity of clinical ALI/ARDS in human patients.
Participant Demographics
Murine model using male C57Bl/6J mice.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Confidence Interval
95% CI 7%–101%; 4%–116%; 6%–185%; 23%–126%
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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