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Updated: Feb 18, 2026
Bronchoalveolar Lavage Exosomes in Lipopolysaccharide-induced Septic Lung Injury
Published on: May 21, 2018
Effects of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes on Lung Inflammation in a Murine Aspiration Model
Nogah Nativ-Zeltzer1,2, Rumi Ueha3, Johnathon D Anderson1
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Davis, California, USA.
Objective:
Aspiration pneumonia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in adults with swallowing impairment. Exosomes from mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) present a potential therapeutic for aspiration pneumonia. This study aimed to assess the potential of MSC exosomes to mitigate lung inflammation in a murine aspiration model.
Methods:
Seventeen adult male rats were divided into three groups: Animals in the LPS-EXO group (n = 7) underwent intratracheal instillation of 2.5 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) aspirate and 40 μL of MSC exosome therapeutic intravenously. The LPS-only group (n = 7) underwent LPS aspiration alone without exosome therapy. Three rats underwent instillation of air as sham controls. All animals were euthanized 6 h post instillation. Histopathologic lung injury severity was determined and gene expression of pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines was evaluated using quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).
Results:
The mean composite histologic lung injury score was 8.3 (±1.1) for the LPS-only group, 7.13 (±3.2) for the LPS-EXO treatment group, and 3.3 (±1.1) for the sham control group. One-way ANOVA showed a significant group effect (p = 0.02), and trend analysis revealed a significant linear improvement across groups (p = 0.006; η 2 = 0.43). qRT-PCR showed significantly lower Tnf expression in the LPS-EXO group versus the LPS-only group (p < 0.05). No other significant differences were found between the LPS-EXO and LPS-only groups on qRT-PCR.
Conclusions:
Results of this preliminary investigation suggest that intravenous delivery of MSC exosomes reduces expression levels of proinflammatory cytokine Tnf and attenuates histopathological markers of lung injury in a murine model of aspiration-induced lung damage.
Level Of Evidence:
NA.
Insights
Mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) exosomes show promise in treating aspiration pneumonia by reducing lung inflammation and injury in a mouse model. This therapy significantly lowered pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF expression, offering a potential new treatment for this condition.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Regenerative Medicine
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Aspiration pneumonia is a significant cause of illness and death in adults with impaired swallowing.
- Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and their derived exosomes are being explored for therapeutic applications.
- Exosomes may offer a cell-free therapeutic strategy for inflammatory lung conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of MSC-derived exosomes in mitigating lung inflammation and injury in a murine model of aspiration pneumonia.
- To assess the impact of MSC exosomes on pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine expression post-aspiration.
Main Methods:
- Seventeen male rats were divided into three groups: LPS-induced aspiration with MSC exosome treatment (LPS-EXO), LPS-induced aspiration alone (LPS-only), and sham control.
- Lung injury severity was assessed using histopathology.
- Gene expression of key inflammatory cytokines was quantified using qRT-PCR.
Main Results:
- The LPS-EXO group exhibited a trend towards reduced lung injury scores compared to the LPS-only group (7.13 vs. 8.3).
- A significant reduction in the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF was observed in the LPS-EXO group compared to the LPS-only group (p < 0.05).
- No other significant differences in cytokine expression were noted between the treatment and control groups.
Conclusions:
- Intravenous administration of MSC exosomes shows potential in reducing lung inflammation and histopathological damage in a murine model of aspiration.
- MSC exosomes may attenuate lung injury by downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF expression.
- Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the therapeutic potential of MSC exosomes for aspiration pneumonia.
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