Anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects of intravenous adipose-derived stem cell transplantation in a mouse model of bleomycin-induced interstitial pneumonia

Sci Rep. 2017 Nov 6;7(1):14608. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-15022-3.

Abstract

Adipose-derived stem cells (AdSCs) have recently been considered a useful treatment tool for autoimmune disease because of their anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. We investigated the therapeutic effect of intravenous AdSC transplantation in a mouse model of bleomycin-induced lung injury. AdSCs accumulated in the pulmonary interstitium and inhibited both inflammation and fibrosis in the lung, markedly improving the survival rate of mice with bleomycin-induced lung injury in a cell number-dependent manner. AdSCs inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-12 in activated macrophages, and AdSCs also induced the apoptosis of activated macrophages. AdSCs inhibited the differentiation and proliferation of Th2-type mCD4+ T cells but promoted the differentiation and proliferation of regulatory T cells, suggesting that the phenotypic conversion of T cells may be one of the mechanisms for the anti-inflammatory effect of AdSCs on pulmonary fibrosis. These findings suggest that intravenous AdSCs could be a promising treatment for patients with interstitial pneumonia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipocytes / cytology
  • Administration, Intravenous
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / physiology
  • Bleomycin
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Fibrosis / immunology
  • Fibrosis / pathology
  • Fibrosis / therapy
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Inflammation / therapy
  • Lung / immunology*
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / immunology*
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / pathology
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / therapy*
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / pathology
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Stem Cells / immunology
  • Stem Cells / pathology
  • Survival Analysis
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / pathology

Substances

  • Bleomycin