Characterization of Mesenchymal Stem Cells obtained from human lungs with and without Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Introduction: At present there is no clear evidence of the involvement of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in certain pathologies of the lung like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The objective of the study was to isolate and characterize lung MSC from patients with and without IPF to evaluate their distinct properties and their hypothetical contribution to IPF. Methods and Results: MSC were isolated from lungs from control donors (MSC-D) and patients with IPF (MSC-IPF). Cells were grown and characterized with the Mesenchymal SC analysis kit (BD) and differentiation was performed with the Human MSC Functional Identification kit (R&D). Proliferation and migration were analyzed with the xCELLigence (ACEA Biosciences). Affymetrix arrays GPL6244 were used for gene expression. ‘Mesenchymality’ was assessed using the Rohart MSC test by the Center for Stem Cell Systems at the U. of Melbourne (Australia). Both MSC-D and MSC-IPF present typical markers of stem cells, acquired mesodermal and epithelial markers, and their migratory activity was comparable. MSC-D and MSC-IPF perform similarly according to the Rohart MSC test. As per the arrays, 202 genes were differentially expressed. Oxidative phosphorylation, ribosome proteins and translation initiation factors pathways were down-regulated in MSC-IPF, whilst components of the biosynthesis of amino acids were lower in MSC-D. Conclusions: We found no ostensible functional differences between MSC-D and MSC-IPF, although gene expression seems to be altered in MSC-IPF. However, the real involvement of MSC-IPF in IPF pathogenesis will have to be evaluated in further studies. Funded by I.S. Carlos III PI16/02147 and ROCHE