The Potential Ameliorative Effect of Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Cyclophosphamide Injured Lung in Adult Female Albino Rats

Background
Mesenchymal stem cells particularly those derived from bone marrow (BM-MSCs) exhibit self-renewal as well as trilineage differentiation capabilities. These cells are considered for cell therapy in several medical disorders. Cyclophosphamide is a well-known immunosuppressive drug, it has a potential pulmonary damage effect in humans and animals. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of BM-MSCs in cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced lung damage of rats.
Material and Methods
A total number of 40 female rats were divided into 4 groups (A, B, C &D). Group (A) served as a control group, this group was administered intraperitoneal sterile normal saline for 10 d, (10 animals). Thirty rats were treated with intraperitoneal cyclophosphamide at 70 mg/kg BW/d for 3 d, then equally subdivided into three subgroups (B, C, D): Group B (sacrificed after three days). Group C (Auto healing) was left without treatment for ten days. Group D (MSCs treated) was treated on the 4th and 10th days with male BM-derived MSCs in a dose of 3X106/KG BW, by intraperitoneal injection. After ten days animals were sacrificed, lung tissue was obtained and processed for light microscopy exam, and samples were taken to -80 for RNA extraction. The genes expression was estimated by real-time qPCR and the proteins were detected by immunohistochemistry.
Results
BM-MSCs ameliorated the damaged lung. They reverted the mRNA levels of p53, caspase3, band cl2 more/less similar to those of the control group. Upregulation of the mRNA level of VEGF was noticed after BM-MSCs injection.