Abstract:

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to determine the effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) engraftment on vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) in lung tissue, plasma and extravascular lung water at early stage of smoke inhalation injury.

METHODS: A rabbit smoke inhalation injury model was established using a home-made smoke inhalation injury generator, and rabbits were divided into two groups randomly: a control group (S group, n=32) and a MSCs treatment group (M group, n=32). 10 ml PBS was injected via the ear marginal vein immediately at injury into the S group. Third generation MSCs with a concentration of 1×10⁷/10 ml PBS were injected via the ear marginal vein immediately at injury into the M group. VEGF in peripheral blood and lung tissue were measured at 0 (baseline), 2, 4 and 6 hours after injection respectively and analyzed. The right lungs of rabbits were taken to measure lung water mass fraction.

RESULTS: In the lung tissue, VEGF decreased gradually in the S group (P<0.05) and significantly decreased in the M group (P<0.05), but it increased more significantly than the values at the corresponding time points (P<0.05). In peripheral blood, VEGF increased gradually in the S group (P<0.05) and markedly increased in the M group (P<0.05), but it decreased more significantly than the values at corresponding time points (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: MSCs engraftment to smoke inhalation injury could increase VEGF in lung tissue, decrease VEGF in plasma and reduce extravascular lung water, indicating its protective effect on smoke inhalation injury.

Key words: Mesenchymal stem cells, Smoke inhalation injury, Vascular endothelial cell growth factor, Extravascular lung water, Rabbit