An intra-amniotic injection of mesenchymal stem cells promotes lung maturity in a rat congenital diaphragmatic hernia model
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In brief
In brief
Intra-amniotic injection of human mesenchymal stem cells in a rat CDH model significantly improved lung maturity markers including alveolar structure, septal development, and pulmonary arterial wall thickness. Results demonstrate therapeutic potential for prenatal stem cell intervention in CDH-associated pulmonary hypoplasia.
Written by the GCMD Library team from the article.
Abstract
Purpose
We aimed to evaluate the effect of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) on congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) by intra-amniotic injection in a rat CDH model.
Methods
Nitrofen (100 mg) was administered to pregnant rats at E9.5. hMSCs (1.0 × 106) or PBS was injected into each amniotic cavity at E18, and fetuses were harvested at E21. The fetal lungs were classified into normal, CDH, and CDH-hMSCs groups. To determine the lung maturity, we assessed the alveolar histological structure by H&E and Weigert staining and the alveolar arteries by Elastica Van Gieson (EVG) staining. TTF-1, a marker of type II alveolar epithelial cells, was also evaluated by immunohistochemical staining and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.
Results
The survival rate after intra-amniotic injection was 72.1%. The CDH-hMSCs group had significantly more alveoli and secondary septa than the CDH group (p < 0.05). The CDH-hMSCs group had larger air spaces and thinner alveolar walls than the CDH group (p < 0.05). The medial and adventitial thickness of the pulmonary artery in the CDH-hMSCs group were significantly better (p < 0.001), and there were significantly fewer TTF-1-positive cells than in the CDH group (p < 0.001).
Conclusion
These results suggest that intra-amniotic injection of hMSCs has therapeutic potential for CDH.