Airway epithelium of transplanted lungs with and without direct bronchial artery revascularization

Normal systemic blood flow to the airways and lung parenchyma of transplanted lungs can only be re-established by direct bronchial artery revascularization. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether such direct bronchial artery revascularization would preserve ciliary function, previously shown to be reduced in lungs transplanted without revascularization.

Twenty-five single lung transplanted patients were included in this study. Complete direct bronchial artery revascularization was achieved in eight patients. In 16 patients the procedure had either failed (n = 10) or was not attempted (n = 6). In one patient the result of the revascularization was unknown. Airway epithelium samples were obtained from the native and the transplanted lungs during bronchoscopic examinations. Airway erythema and excessive secretion were registered. The epithelium samples underwent histological examination and ciliary beat frequency was measured in vitro by video recording. Transbronchial biopsies from the transplanted lungs were examined for signs of rejection and bronchitis.

No differences in ciliary beat frequency nor in the distribution of ciliated/de-ciliated columnar epithelium cells between native lungs and transplanted lungs with or without successful direct bronchial artery revascularization could be demonstrated. In 38% of the transplanted lungs without successful revascularization metaplastic or squamous epithelium was present, while lungs with successful revascularization had only normal columnar epithelium. Ongoing rejection or airway erythema did not influence ciliary beat frequency. Excessive secretion in the airways was the only finding associated with significantly increased ciliary beat frequency.

Ciliary beat frequency of epithelium cells of transplanted lungs did not differ from that of native lungs and consequently direct bronchial artery revascularization did not have any demonstrable important influence. Excessive secretion in the airways was associated with increased ciliary beat frequency. The histological findings also showed that the abundance of ciliated cells was preserved in transplanted bronchi irrespective of bronchial artery revascularization. However, epithelium metaplasia was only seen in transplanted bronchi without revascularization.