Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31559457

Pediatr Surg Int. 2019 Sep 26. doi: 10.1007/s00383-019-04561-7. [Epub ahead of print]
An intra-amniotic injection of mesenchymal stem cells promotes lung maturity in a rat congenital diaphragmatic hernia model.
Takayama S1,2, Sakai K3, Fumino S3, Furukawa T3, Kishida T4, Mazda O4, Tajiri T3.
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Abstract
PURPOSE:
We aimed to evaluate the effect of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) on congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) by intra-amniotic injection in a rat CDH model.

METHODS:
Nitrofen (100 mg) was administered to pregnant rats at E9.5. hMSCs (1.0 × 106) or PBS was injected into each amniotic cavity at E18, and fetuses were harvested at E21. The fetal lungs were classified into normal, CDH, and CDH-hMSCs groups. To determine the lung maturity, we assessed the alveolar histological structure by H&E and Weigert staining and the alveolar arteries by Elastica Van Gieson (EVG) staining. TTF-1, a marker of type II alveolar epithelial cells, was also evaluated by immunohistochemical staining and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS:
The survival rate after intra-amniotic injection was 72.1%. The CDH-hMSCs group had significantly more alveoli and secondary septa than the CDH group (p < 0.05). The CDH-hMSCs group had larger air spaces and thinner alveolar walls than the CDH group (p < 0.05). The medial and adventitial thickness of the pulmonary artery in the CDH-hMSCs group were significantly better (p < 0.001), and there were significantly fewer TTF-1-positive cells than in the CDH group (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION:
These results suggest that intra-amniotic injection of hMSCs has therapeutic potential for CDH.

KEYWORDS:
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia; Fetal therapy; Intra-amniotic injection; Lung hypoplasia; Mesenchymal stem cell; Nitrofen

PMID: 31559457 DOI: 10.1007/s00383-019-04561-7