title: [Investigating the treatment of silicosis with autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the safety and curative effects of autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in the treatment of silicosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the hospital, and ten patients with silicosis who had given written consent were enrolled in this study. BMSCs isolated from 100 ml of bone marrow for each case were purified and cultured. In each case the 3rd generation of qualified BMSCs (5 × 10(7)) were intravenously administered weekly for 3 weeks. Three cases among 10 patients were treated with BMSCs modified by hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) gene. The clinical symptoms, chest films, chest CT, pulmonary functions, T cells, serum IgG and ceruloplasmin (CP) were observed in 6 or 9 months after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No obvious sub-effect was observed in cases treated with BMSCs, the clinical symptoms (such as cough, sputum and chest tightness) basically disappeared in 9 months after treatment. Pulmonary function tests showed that FVC increased from 71.2% ± 17.0% to 84.0% ± 10.9% (P < 0.01) and FEV1.0 increased from 67.5% ± 17.7% to 80.6% ± 14.9% (P < 0.01). The levels of serum CP and IgG significantly decreased (P < 0.01). Further, the chest films and CT in cases treated with autologous BMSCs modified by HGF gene were improved to different extent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with autologous BMSCs modified by HGF gene exhibit a beneficial effect on silicosis.
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou No. 12 Hospital, Guangzhou 510620, China.
authors.forename: Ling-zhen
authors.initials: LZ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wei-wei
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jia-yu
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Geng-xin
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.forename: Jin-ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Zi-kuan
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D005260:Female; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012829:Silicosis / Q000601:surgery*; D014162:Transfection; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor