Mesenchymal stem cell: does it work in an experimental model with acute respiratory distress syndrome?

We hypothesized that bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) would have a possible role in the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). ARDS disease model was developed in Wistar albino male rats by intratracheal instillation of physiological saline solution. Anesthezied and tracheotomized rats (n = 8) with ARDS were pressure-controlled ventilated. Isolated and characterized rat (r-) BM-MSCs were labeled with GFP gene, and introduced in the lungs of the ARDS rat-model. After applying of MSCs, the life span of each rat was recorded. When rats died, their lung tissues were removed for histopathological examination. Also the tissue sections were analyzed for GFP labeled rBM-MSCs and stained for vimentin, CK19, proinflammatory (MPO, IL-1ß, IL-6 and MIP-2) and anti-inflammatory [IL-1ra and prostaglandin E2 receptor (EP3)] cytokines. The histopathological signs of rat-model ARDS were similar to the acute phase of ARDS in humans. rBM-MSCs were observed to home in lung paranchyma. Although the infiltration of neutrophils slightly decreased in the interalveolar, peribronchial and perivascular area, a notable improvement was determined in the degree of hemorrhage, edema and hyaline membrane formation in rats treated with rBM-MSCs. Also decreased proinflammatory cytokines levels and increased the intensity of anti-inflammatory cytokines were established. Therefore MSCs could promote alveolar epithelial repair by mediating of cytokines from a proinflammatory to an anti-inflammatory response. As a novel therapeutic approach, mesenchymal stem cell treatment with intratracheal injection could be helpful in the management of critically ill patients with ARDS.