Cell-based therapy improves cell viability and increases airway size in an explant model.
Cell-based therapy is a promising treatment option for lung disease, but no studies have demonstrated its benefit in promoting perinatal lung growth. Embryonic day 18 (E18) fetal lungs treated with vascular inhibitors were grown as explant organ cultures to inhibit endothelial growth in the explant cultures. Disruption of pulmonary vasculature decreased explant mean cord length and viability, whereas coculture with fetal pulmonary or predifferentiated embryonic stem cells rescued both parameters. These results demonstrate in a model of perinatal lung growth, exogenous addition of fetal pulmonary cells or differentiated embryonic stem (ES) cells promotes survival and alveolar morphogenesis. These experiments represent the first evidence of the benefits of cell-based therapy for perinatal lung growth.
Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut, USA.
Blair
B
Roszell
Ariel
A
Seaton
Guo-Hua
GH
Fong
Christine M
CM
Finck
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002470:Cell Survival; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation; D005260:Female; D005325:Fetal Organ Maturity; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development*; D051379:Mice; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D011247:Pregnancy; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C467480:vascular endothelial growth factor A, mouse