Autologous transplantation of endothelial progenitor cells attenuates acute lung injury in rabbits.
BACKGROUND
Acute lung injury (ALI) and end-stage acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are among the most common causes of death in intensive care units. Activation and damage of pulmonary endothelium is the hallmark of ALI/ARDS. Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in maintaining normal endothelial function as well as endothelial repairing after vascular injury. Here, the authors present the first study demonstrating the therapeutic potential of EPCs in a rabbit model of ALI/ARDS.


METHODS
Circulating EPCs were obtained from rabbits using Ficoll centrifugation. One week after culturing, ALI was induced in rabbits by oleic acid (75 mg/kg, intravenous), and autologous EPCs were transplanted intravenously. Vasomotor function of isolated pulmonary artery and degrees of lung injury were assessed 2 days later.


RESULTS
Endothelial dysfunction in the pulmonary artery was significantly attenuated in rabbits treated with EPCs, whereas the endothelium-independent relaxation responses were not different. Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase was suppressed in the pulmonary artery of EPC-treated animals. Infiltration of leukocytes in the lung parenchyma was significantly reduced after EPC transplantation. EPCs also decreased water content, hyaline membrane formation, and hemorrhage in lungs.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors demonstrated that autologous transplantation of EPCs preserves pulmonary endothelial function and maintains the integrity of pulmonary alveolar-capillary barrier. Transplantation of EPCs can be a novel cell-based, endothelium-targeted therapeutic strategy for prevention and treatment of ALI/ARDS.
Lam
Chen-Fuh
CF
Department of Anesthesiology, National Cheng Kung University College of Medicine and Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.
Liu
Yen-Chin
YC
Hsu
Jen-Kuo
JK
Yeh
Pei-An
PA
Su
Ting-Ya
TY
Huang
Chien-Chi
CC
Lin
Ming-Wei
MW
Wu
Ping-Ching
PC
Chang
Pei-Jung
PJ
Tsai
Yu-Chuan
YC
D000818:Animals; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000637:transplantation; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011817:Rabbits; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous