Mesenchymal stromal cells from human umbilical cord prevent the development of lung fibrosis in immunocompetent mice

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196048
• Publication Date: 2018-06-01T13:43:37Z
• Authors: Gianluca Moroncini; Chiara Paolini; Fiorenza Orlando; Chiara Capelli; Antonella Grieco; Cecilia Tonnini; Silvia Agarbati; Eleonora Mondini; Stefania Saccomanno; Gaia Goteri; Silvia Svegliati ...; Mauro Provinciali; Martino Introna; Nicoletta Del Papa; Armando Gabrielli
• Keywords: 0303 health sciences; Science; Macrophages; Pulmonary Fibrosis; Q; R; Mesenchymal Stem Cells; Fetal Blood; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; 3. Good health; Disease Models, Animal; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; Medicine; Animals; Cytokines; Heterografts; Humans; Female; Lung; Research Article

Lung fibrosis is a severe condition resulting from several interstial lung diseases (ILD) with different etiologies. Current therapy of ILD, especially those associated connective tissue diseases, rather limited and new anti-fibrotic strategies are needed. In this study, we investigated the activity in vivo human mesenchymal stromal cells obtained whole umbilical cord (hUC-MSC). Adult immunocompetent C57BL/6 mice (n. = 8 for each experimental condition) were injected intravenously hUC-MSC 2.5 × 105) twice, 24 hours 7 days after endotracheal injection bleomycin. Upon sacrifice at 8, 14, 21, collagen content, inflammatory cytokine profile, presence explanted analyzed. Systemic administration double dose significantly reduced bleomycin-induced injury (inflammation fibrosis) through selective inhibition IL6-IL10-TGFβ axis involving M2 macrophages. Only few detected lungs, suggesting "hit run" mechanism action cellular therapy. Our data indicate that possess strong mouse model resembling an subject affected by providing proof concept ad-hoc clinical trials.