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Updated: May 29, 2026
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Unilateral Lung Volume Analysis Using Micro-CT for Enhanced Assessment of Pulmonary Fibrosis in Preclinical Models
Published on: June 20, 2025
Cell therapy for fibrotic interstitial pulmonary disease: experimental study
Rosa M Cabral1, Érika Branco, Márcia Dos S Rizzo
1Department of Veterinary Clinical and Surgery, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, PI, Brazil. rosacabral@ufpi.edu.br
Microscopy Research and Technique
|September 22, 2011
Summary
This study shows that swine models effectively mimic human fibrotic interstitial lung disease. Cell therapy using bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMCs) demonstrated potential for lung tissue repair in this model.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Pulmonary Pathology
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Interstitial lung disease (ILD) presents significant challenges in human medicine.
- Developing reliable animal models is crucial for understanding ILD pathogenesis and testing therapies.
- Swine models offer potential due to physiological similarities to humans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate histological changes in swine lung parenchyma following induced interstitial lung disease.
- To assess the efficacy of bone marrow mononuclear cell (BMMC) therapy in a bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis model.
- To validate the swine model for studying fibrotic interstitial pulmonary diseases.
Main Methods:
- Pulmonary fibrosis was induced in ten female swine using intratracheal bleomycin sulfate.
- Animals were divided into a control group and a BMMC cell therapy group.
- High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), histology, and immunohistochemistry were employed for evaluation over 180 days.
Main Results:
- HRCT at 90 days revealed interstitial lesions characteristic of human ILD.
- At 180 days, the control group showed advanced disease compared to the BMMC-treated group.
- Immunohistochemistry indicated neoangiogenesis and the presence of young cells in the treated group, suggesting a reconstructive response.
Conclusions:
- Swine are a suitable model for bleomycin-induced fibrotic interstitial pulmonary disease.
- BMMC infusion shows promise in promoting a reconstructive response in injured lung parenchyma.
- This model aids in the study and therapeutic development for human ILD.
