The protective role of mesenchymal stem cells in ventilator-induced lung injury in rats

Abstract

Objective To investigate the protective role of mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)in ventilator- induced lung injury(VILI)in rats and its mechanisms. Methods Rat VILI model was established by high tidal volume ventilation in SD rats and randomly divided into 3 groups:sham operated group, control group and MSCs treatment group(n= 10 per groups).The lung tissue injury, lung polymorphonuclear(PMN) cells counts and pro- inflammatory cytokines[interleukin(IL)- 1β, IL- 6 and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)]levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) were measured 4 h after mechanical ventilation. Results 4 h after mechanical ventilation, the lung tissue injury score of MSCs group was 4.23±1.64, significantly lower than that of control group(7.31±2.15, t= 6.427, P 0.05). The lung PMN counts of three groups were 9.27±4.55,26.37±9.44 and 15.33±6.62, respectively.The PMN counts of MSCs group was significantly lower than that of saline group(t= 3.011, P 0.05). The IL- 1β, IL- 6 and TNF-αlevels in BALF of MSCs group was(70.40±31.40),(41.37±14.34)and(47.60±10.23)ng/L, respectively,significantly lower than that of control group[(170.20±58.90) ng/L, t= 5.04, P 0.05;(29.20±9.11) ng/L, t= 2.33, P> 0.05;(39.44± 12.14) ng/L,t= 0.91, P> 0.05]. Conclusion MSCs has a protective effect on VILI by attenuating the degree of lung tissue injury, PMN lung infiltration and production of local pro- inflammatory cytokines. Key words: Mesenchymal stem cells; Ventilator-induced lung injury; Polymorphonuclear; Inflammatory