title: Transplantation of endothelial progenitor cells improves pulmonary endothelial function and gas exchange in rabbits with endotoxin-induced acute lung injury.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been therapeutically applied to aid vascular repair and myocardial regeneration. The number of circulating EPCs also provides invaluable outcome prediction for fatal diseases such as acute lung injury (ALI) or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, evidence for the therapeutic potential of EPCs in subjects with ALI/ADRS is limited.
  
  
  METHODS
  Circulating EPCs were obtained from rabbits using Ficoll centrifugation. One week after culturing EPCs in endothelial growth medium-2, ALI was induced in rabbits by intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide (500 μg/kg). Autologous EPCs or saline were administered IV after induction of ALI and animals were killed 2 days later. Pulmonary artery endothelial function and gas exchange were determined. Degrees of lung injury were assessed by alveolocapillary permeability, lung hemoglobin content, and myeloperoxidase activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In comparison with controls, Po(2) in arterial blood was significantly elevated and pulmonary artery endothelium-dependent relaxation response was restored in rabbits receiving EPC transplantation. Lung water, Evan's blue, and bronchoalveolar lavage protein contents were significantly reduced in the EPC transplanted group, indicating a better preservation of the alveolocapillary membrane. Transplantation of EPCs decreased the lung hemoglobin level. Furthermore, expressions of CD11b and myeloperoxidase activity were also suppressed after administration of EPCs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transplantation of EPCs restored pulmonary endothelial function, preserved integrity of the alveolocapillary barrier and suppressed the lung inflammatory response, thereby improving pulmonary gas exchange in rabbits with intratracheal lipopolysaccharide-induced ALI. Transplantation of EPCs can be a novel cell-based, endothelium-targeted therapeutic strategy for prevention and treatment of ALI/ARDS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, National Cheng Kung University Medical College and Hospital, 138 Sheng Li Road, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chen-Fuh
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Jun-Neng
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Roan
authors.forename: Chou-Hwei
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Pei-Jung
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chein-Chi
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yen-Chin
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Meei-Jyh
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Yu-Chuan
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D055371:Acute Lung Injury / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange / Q000502:physiology*; D011817:Rabbits; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004731:Endotoxins