Therapeutic effects of mesenchymal stem cells and vitamin D on Bleomycin triggered lung damage in male adult albino rats

Abstract

ABSTRACT Bleomycin is a cancer chemotherapeutic agent that induces pulmonary fibrosis. Vitamin D plays an immunomodulation role. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells have a strong therapeutic effect in fatal pulmonary fibrosis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the significance of vitamin D and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells as therapeutic agents on lung injuries caused by Bleomycin in adult male rats. Thirty-five adult male albino rats were allocated into five experimental groups. The control group was the group I. The group given a single intratracheal instillation of Bleomycin was group II. The group was given vitamin D3 for 2 days before Bleomycin administration was group III. Group IV was the group that was injected by a single dose of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) after 4 weeks of Bleomycin injection. Group V was the withdrawal group. Histological, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural techniques were used to process and evaluate lung tissues. The lung of group 2 was demonstrated interalveolar septal thickening by RBCs, infiltration of mononuclear cells, deposition of collagen, and marked positive alpha-smooth muscle actin immunoreactivity. Mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow can diminish Bleomycin-generated fibrosis of the lungs and inflammation in rats better than vitamin D treatment.