PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Luis Antonio Mariñas-Pardo
AU  - Isabel Mirones-Aguilar
AU  - Óscar Amor-Carro
AU  - Rebeca Fraga-Iriso
AU  - Beatriz Lema-Costa
AU  - Isabel Cubillo-Moreno
AU  - Miguel Άngel Rodríguez-Milla
AU  - Javier García-Castro
AU  - David Ramos-Barbόn
TI  - Mesenchymal stem cells down-regulate inflammation but not airway hyperresponsiveness in experimental asthma
DP  - 2011 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - p3269
VI  - 38
IP  - Suppl 55
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p3269.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p3269.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2011 Sep 01; 38
AB  - Introduction: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have immunomodulatory properties. MSCs may have a potential to down-regulate airway inflammation in asthma, but may as well serve as building blocks for unwanted airway remodeling. Here we tested the effect of MSCs in experimental asthma.Methods: MSCs from peritoneal adipose tissue of donor mice were transduced to express green fluorescent protein (GFP). Experimental asthma was induced in recipient mice by repeated intranasal instillation of house dust mite (HDM) extract. These mice subsequently received 3×105 MSCs intravenously (HDM-MSC group). Control groups consisted of HDM-instilled miced that received MSC vehicle (HDM-noMSC group), or PBS-instilled mice that received MSCs (PBS-MSC group). Airway responsiveness to methacholine, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) leukocytes and the presence of GFP+ MSCs in the lung were analyzed 3 days after the MSC or vehicle injection.Results: HDM-MSC mice showed: (i) unchanged airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine compared with HDM-noMSC mice; (ii) BAL leukocyte counts decreased to the PBS-MSC group baseline; and (iii) GFP+ MSCs present in lung parenchyma but not in the conductive airway wall.Conclusion: In experimental asthma, a single MSC infusion effectively decreases airway inflammation but leaves airway hyperresponsiveness untouched. MSCs infused for therapeutic aims may not home to the airway wall. Whether clinicaly relevant outcomes in terms of lung function can be expected from MSC therapy in severe asthma needs further studies.Funded by the Fondo de Investigaciόn Sanitaria of Spain & European Regional Development Fund, a GlaxoSmithKline Collaborative Research Trial and SEPAR.