title: Maintenance of human amnion epithelial cell phenotype in pulmonary surfactant.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Preterm newborns often require mechanical respiratory support that can result in ventilation-induced lung injury (VILI), despite exogenous surfactant treatment. Human amnion epithelial cells (hAECs) reduce lung inflammation and resultant abnormal lung development in preterm animals; co-administration with surfactant is a potential therapeutic strategy. We aimed to determine whether hAECs remain viable and maintain function after combination with surfactant.
  
  
  METHODS
  hAECs were incubated in surfactant (Curosurf) or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) for 30 minutes at 37°C. Cell viability, phenotype (by flow cytometry), inhibition of T-cell proliferative responses and differentiation into lung epithelium-like cells (assessed with immunohistochemical staining of surfactant protein (SP)-A) were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cell viability and apoptosis of hAECs were not altered by surfactant, and hAEC phenotype was not altered. hAECs maintained expression of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) and human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-ABC after surfactant exposure. Expression of HLA-DR, CD80 and CD86 was not increased. Immunosuppression of T cells by hAECs was not altered by surfactant. hAEC differentiation into lung epithelium-like cells was equivalent after exposure to PBS or surfactant, and SP-A expression was equivalent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surfactant exposure does not alter viability or function of hAECs. Thus a combination therapy of hAECs and surfactant may be an efficacious therapy to ameliorate or prevent preterm lung disease.
authors.forename: Courtney A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.forename: Jacqueline M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Melville
authors.forename: Graeme R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Polglase
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jenkin
authors.forename: Timothy J M
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Moss
mesh_terms: D000650:Amnion / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001688:Biological Products / Q000494:pharmacology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010641:Phenotype; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D010743:Phospholipids; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; C068291:poractant alfa