The role of respiratory epithelium in a rat model of obliterative airway disease.
BACKGROUND
The etiology and pathogenesis of obliterative bronchiolitis after lung transplantation remain to be fully elucidated. Using a rat model of heterotopically transplanted trachea grafts, we have examined the role airway epithelium plays in obliterative airway disease (OAD).


METHODS
Rat trachea isografts were denuded of epithelium by protease digestion. Grafts were inoculated either with or without native airway epithelial cells and transplanted into the omentum of recipient animals.


RESULTS
Airway epithelium removal resulted in OAD in denuded isogeneic trachea grafts. Reseeding of the denuded grafts with epithelial cells significantly reduced airway obliteration from 78% to 22% luminal occlusion.


CONCLUSIONS
Non-immune-mediated injury will cause OAD, and epithelial cell replacement in denuded isografts can significantly reduce the fibrotic progression of the disease.
Adams
B F
BF
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, California 94305-5407, USA.
Brazelton
T
T
Berry
G J
GJ
Morris
R E
RE
D000818:Animals; D001989:Bronchiolitis Obliterans / Q000209:etiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011402:Pronase / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000166:cytology*; D014132:Trachea / Q000637:transplantation; D016042:Transplantation, Heterotopic
D011402:Pronase