The effect of intratracheal administration of mesenchymal stem cells for ischemia-reperfusion injury of the lung

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)are known to possess anti-inflammatory effect. We investigated whether intratracheal administration of MSCs ameliorate ischemia-reperfusion injury of prolonged cold ischemia in a mouse model. The mouse lungs were perfused with low-potassium dextran glucose solution and preserved at 4℃ for 18 hours prior to transplantation. Cultured MSCs isolated from healthy human were administered into the left bronchus of the lung graft. Orthotopic left lung transplantation was performed. The recipient mice were euthanatized 6 hours after transplantation. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)from the left lung was collected and the total protein concentration, cell counts and the concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured. The other lung grafts were histologically examined. The results indicated that intratracheal administration of MSCs ameliorated ischemia-reperfusion injury.