Multipotent mesenchymal stem cells in lung fibrosis
Authors
Katrin E. Hostettler, Amiq Gazdhar, Petra Khan, Spasenija Savic, Luca Tamo, Didier Lardinois, Michael Roth, Michael Tamm, Thomas Geiser
Institution
University of Basel
Country
Switzerland
Year
2017
Journal
PLOS One
Abstract
Rationale
Stem cells have been identified in the human lung; however, their role in lung disease is not
clear. We aimed to isolate mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) from human lung tissue and to
study their in vitro properties.
Methods
MSC were cultured from lung tissue obtained from patients with fibrotic lung diseases (n =
17), from emphysema (n = 12), and normal lungs (n = 3). Immunofluorescence stainings
were used to characterize MSC. The effect of MSC-conditioned media (MSC-CM) on fibroblast
proliferation and on lung epithelial wound repair was studied.
Results
Expression of CD44, CD90, and CD105 characterized the cells as MSC. Moreover, the cells
stained positive for the pluripotency markers Oct3/4 and Nanog. Positive co-stainings of
chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) with CD44, CD90 or CD105 indicated the cells are of
bone marrow origin. MSC-CM significantly inhibited the proliferation of lung fibroblasts by
29% (p = 0.0001). Lung epithelial repair was markedly increased in the presence of MSCCM
(+ 32%). Significantly more MSC were obtained from fibrotic lungs than from emphysema
or control lungs.
Conclusions
Our study demonstrates enhanced numbers of MSC in fibrotic lung tissue as compared to
emphysema and normal lung. The cells inhibit the proliferation of fibroblasts and enhance
epithelial repair in vitro. Further in vivo studies are needed to elucidate their potential role in
the treatment of lung fibrosis.