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Introduction

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory disease involving normal pancreatic gland that exhibits a variety of clinical manifestations. Although mild AP has a low morbidity and mortality rate, severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) is a necrotizing disease involving remote organ systems. SAP occupies 20% of the patients with AP, and 15–25% of SAP patients will eventually die (1). SAP is initiated by the premature activation of digestive enzymes (trypsin, elastase and lipase) within the pancreatic acinar cells, leading to self-digestion of pancreatic tissue (2). During the early phase of SAP, inflammatory responses occur in the ductal cells and give rise to systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), leading to long-distance organ damage and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) (3). The most common and serious SIRS is pancreatitis-associated lung injury, which is characterized by increased endothelial and epithelial barrier permeability, with exudate leaking into the alveolar space and interstitial lung, thus leading to pulmonary edema and gas exchange dysfunction (4). As shown in a previous study, inflammatory mediators play an important role in the pathogenesis of pancreatitis-associated acute lung injury (ALI). These mediators include tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, -6 and -10, granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and neuropeptide substance P (SP) (5). All of these mediators represent potential targets for therapeutic intervention.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent adult stem cells, mainly found in the bone marrow, that differentiate into a variety of cell types, including chondrocytes, myoblasts, endothelial, epithelial, nerve and alveolar epithelial cells. Bone marrow-derived MSCs possess immunomodulatory properties and are differentiated into alveolar endothelial cells to replace damaged alveolar endothelial cells. Furthermore, an allograft of MSCs has been shown to inhibit the inflammatory response and to decrease collagen content in the injured lung tissues, thus diminishing the incidence of pulmonary fibrosis (6). All these advantages are beneficial to the cell replacement therapy for the treatment of diseases of the respiratory system.

In this study, we explored the protective role of MSCs in rats with SAP and the possible mechanisms involved. We also investigated the pathology and function of lung tissue in rats with SAP, as well as the regulation of inflammatory mediators and possible mechanisms involved.

Materials and methods

Experimental animals

Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, weighing 250–300 g [Batch No. SCXK (Shanghai) 2007-0005], were provided by the Shanghai SLK Experimental Animal Co. Two rats of 4 weeks of age, weighing 60–80 g were used for the isolation of bone marrow-derived MSCs. The guidelines for animal ethics were followed in all the care and handling of the animals.

Cultivation and identification of MSCs

MSCs were isolated from bone marrow. The male SD rats of 4 weeks of age were sacrificed by cervical dislocation, and their bilateral lower limb was amputated under sterile and anaesthetic conditions. The tibia and femur were exposed with the muscles knocked out. The bone marrow cavity was washed with DMEM-F12 nutrient solution until the whitening of the backbone. The bone marrow cell suspension was acquired under sterile conditions in mixed nutrient medium with 10% fetal calf serum and DMEM-F12, and was inoculated with DMEM-F12 nutrient solution at 6×105/cm2 density with the supernatant discarded. The bone marrow cells were cultured by differential adherence methods, and the situations of cell adherence were observed with no exchange of medium within 48 h. When the cells grew to 90% confluence at the bottom of the culture flask, they were passaged at 1:2 or 1:3 according to the cell growth. At the third generation, cells were harvested, digested with trypsin and counted for reserve. The cellular identification of the expression of MSC surface makers, including CD90, CD29, CD34 and CD45, was performed by flow cytometry. The third generation MSCs were induced to differentiate into adipogenic and osteoblast cells for identification. These third generation MSCs were used for the following transplant experiments.

Experimental model

SD rats, weighing 250–300 g, were selected for the experiment. AP was induced by sodium taurocholate (7). Rats were anesthetized by an intraperitoneal injection of 3% pentobarbital sodium at a dose of 30 mg/kg. The biliopancreatic duct was cannulated through the duodenum, and the hepatic duct was closed with a small bulldog clamp. The SAP model was established by a retrograde infusion of 5% sodium taurocholate (Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA) into the biliopancreatic duct. In the sham-operated group (SO), SD rats received a retrograde infusion of sterile saline.

Experimental design

Seventy-five male SD rats were randomly divided into the SO group (n=25), SAP group (n=25) and MSC group (n=25). Rats with AP were randomly divided into SAP group and MSC treatment group, which, 2 h after the surgery, were injected with l ml medium (SAP group) or l ml medium with cell suspension (1×106 MSCs) (MSC group). Rats in the SO group were injected with medium with an equivalent volume at the same time-point. Rats were sacrificed 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h after the establishment of the model, and then the serum amylase (AMS) levels, IL-1, IL-10, TNF-α, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP) and other inflammation factors were detected. Pancreatic and lung tissues were harvested.

Cell marking

Third generation MSCs were added with sterile DAPI (final concentration 50 g/l) and incubated at 37°C for 12 h. After repeated washing with PBS to remove DAPI, the cells were collected after one more centrifugation. DMEM-F12 medium (1 ml) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum containing 1×106 MSCs was injected into the rats with SAP through the caudal vein at 2 h.

Quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)

The total RNA was extracted with the use of a TRIzol kit (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA) and converted to cDNA with a first strand cDNA synthesis kit (Fermentas, Burlington, Canada). Quantitative RT-PCR was performed using SYBR-Green SuperMix-UDG (Invitrogen). The primer sequences used for PCR were: TNF-α forward, 5′-ACTCCCAGAAAAGCAAGCAA-3′ and reverse, 5′-CGAGCAGGAATGAGAAGAGG-3′; SP forward, 5′-AGAGGAAATCGGTGCCAACG-3′ and reverse, 5′-TAATCCAAAGAACTGCTGAGG-3′; β-actin forward, 5′-CACCCGCGAGTACAACCTTC-3′ and reverse, 5′-CCCATACCCACCATCACACC-3′. PCR amplification was performed at an annealing temperature of 50°C for 2 min (UDG incubation), at 95°C for 2 min, followed by 40 cycles of denaturing at 95°C for 20 sec and annealing at 60°C for 30 sec. All reactions were performed in triplicate. Melting curve analysis was constructed to ensure the specificity of quantitative PCR. Data were expressed as TNF-α or SP mRNA levels relative to the β-actin gene.

Detection for wet-to-dry ratio of lung tissue

Water content in lung tissue samples was measured to estimate the severity of pulmonary edema. As soon as the rats were sacrificed, their right middle lobe lung tissues were removed. Fresh lung tissue samples were weighed. After saline rinse, the samples were placed in an oven at 160°C for 48 h and dried to constant weight and were then reweighed. The moisture content of the lung was expressed as wet weight/dry weight, presenting the degree of pulmonary edema.

Observation of lung morphology

Lung tissue rat samples were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde, and embedded in paraffin. The paraffin-embedded tissues were then sectioned into slices (5 μm thick). After H&E staining, the morphological changes in lung tissue were observed under a microscope.

Determination of lung myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity

Lung tissue samples were homogenized by freeze thawing and sonication. The supernatant after centrifugation was used for the assay. In 20 μl of supernatant, 10 μl of tetramethylbenzidine (final concentration, 1.6 mmol/l) and 70 μl of H2O2 (final concentration, 3.0 mmol/l) were added to make reaction solution. MPO activity was assessed at the wavelength of 630 nm in a spectrophotometer for 2 min. The absorbance difference was recorded at the first 30 and 90 sec, and this value represents the changes in MPO enzyme activity in the granules of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs).

Measurement of serum AMS levels

Serum AMS levels were measured with an Automatic Biochemistry Analyzer CL-7300 (Shimadzu Corp., Kyoto, Japan) to confirm the successful induction of SAP.

Statistical analysis

Data are expressed as the means ± SD. ANOVA was used to analyze the differences between the groups. All statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS software (version 13.0 for Windows). P<0.05 denoted statistically significant differences.

Results

Observation of MSCs

The third generation MSCs were observed under an inverted microscope. A small amount of cell adhesion was found at 24 h after incubation in a flat-bottom plate, which was significantly increased when the incubation time was prolonged to 48 h. Most cells were spindle-shaped when observed under a microscope. The primary generation grew in lumps and reached 90% confluence after incubation for 2 weeks (Fig. 1A).

Figure 1 Third generation mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). (A) The isolated MSCs were spindle-shaped, forming spiral-like colonies (magnification, ×200). (B) Third generation MSCs labeled with DAPI the day before the allograft.

Tracing of MSCs by DAPI

The third generation MSCs were incubated with DAPI in the culture medium the day before the allograft, followed by the sacrificing of rats and the isolation of lung tissue. The tissue samples were observed under a microscope, and the blue stained cells were immigrated MSCs (Fig. 1B).

Detection of surface markers on MSCs by flow cytometry

The cell surface markers on third generation MSCs were detected by flow cytometry. The positive rates of CD90 and CD29 were 98.6% (Fig. 2A) and 97.5% (Fig. 2B), respectively. However, the expression of CD34 and CD45 in MSCs was low, with positive rates of 0.56% (Fig. 2C) and 0.79% (Fig. 2D), respectively. This demonstrated that the purity of the MSCs was >95%.

Figure 2 (A) The proportion of the CD90+ cells was 98.6%; (B) the proportion of CD29+ cells was 97.5%; (C) the proportion of CD34+ cells was 0.56%; (D) the proportion of CD45+ cells was 0.79%.

MSC transplantation attenuates pulmonary edema and inflammation in rats with SAP

In the SAP group, the pancreatitis-associated ALI was demonstrated by histology, characterized by alveolar edema, hemorrhaging, pulmonary interstitial edema, inflammatory cell infiltration, thicker alveolar septum and damage to the normal structure of the lung tissues. After MSC transplantation, the alveolar structure had improved, with thin walls, less infiltration of inflammatory cells and decreased tissue edema (Fig. 3).

Figure 3 Morphological changes of lung tissues in pancreatitis-associated lung injury. (A) Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) group; and (B) mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation group at 3, 6 and 12 h (H&E staining; magnification, ×200).

Pulmonary edema was examined by measuring the water content in the lung tissue samples and expressed as lung wet-to-dry ratio. The lung wet-to-dry ratio showed no significant difference at 1 h after MSC transplantation, but was significantly decreased at 3, 6, 12 and 24 h after MSC transplantation (P<0.05) (Table I).

Table I Pulmonary edema scores (lung wet-to-dry ratio) in the different groups (means ± SD).

Table I

Pulmonary edema scores (lung wet-to-dry ratio) in the different groups (means ± SD).

Group	1 h after modeling	3 h after modeling	6 h after modeling	12 h after modeling	24 h after modeling
SO group	4.23±0.17	5.78±0.10	5.88±0.180	6.69±0.13	6.02±0.15
SAP group	5.21±0.13	6.23±0.18a	6.62±0.331a	6.95±0.42a	6.32±0.23a
MSC group	4.93±0.15	5.74±0.10b	5.85±0.160b	6.03±0.30a,b	6.21±0.25a,b

a Compared to the SO group, P<0.05;

b compared to the SAP group, P<0.05.

{ label (or @symbol) needed for fn[@id='tfn3-mmr-06-02-0287'] } SO, sham-operated; SAP, severe acute pancreatitis; MSC, mesenchymal stem cell.

There was no significant difference in MPO activity in the lung tissue at 1 h between the groups. On the contrary, in the MSC group, the MPO activity was decreased significantly compared to the SAP group at 3, 6, 12 and 24 h (P<0.05) (Table II).

Table II Changes in myeloperoxidase content in lung tissue in the different groups (means ± SD).

Table II

Changes in myeloperoxidase content in lung tissue in the different groups (means ± SD).

Group	1 h after modeling	3 h after modeling	6 h after modeling	12 h after modeling	24 h after modeling
SO group	1.01±0.05	1.03±0.06	1.06±0.07	1.08±0.11	1.05±0.08
SAP group	1.26±0.10	3.60±0.30a	8.62±0.58a	10.82±0.59a	9.76±0.42a
MSC group	1.18±0.06	2.25±0.11a,b	4.26±0.30a,b	3.12±0.49a,b	3.89±0.38a,b

a Compared to the SO group, P<0.05;

b compared to the SAP group, P<0.05.

{ label (or @symbol) needed for fn[@id='tfn6-mmr-06-02-0287'] } SO, sham-operated; SAP, severe acute pancreatitis; MSC, mesenchymal stem cell.

Serum AMS in the SAP group was significantly higher than that in the SO group at each time-point (P<0.05). After MSC transplantation, serum AMS decreased significantly compared to the SAP group at each time-point (P<0.01) (Table III).

Table III Serum amylase levels at each time-point in the different groups (U/l).

Table III

Serum amylase levels at each time-point in the different groups (U/l).

Group	1 h after modeling	3 h after modeling	6 h after modeling	12 h after modeling	24 h after modeling
SO group	1,452±93	3,463±310	3,874±230	3,782±382	3,521±140
SAP group	3,123±246	5,509±890a	8,800±1120a	10,249±1,392a	6,724±1,031a
MSC group	2,956±109	4,766±556a,b	5,482±887a,b	6,724±1,024a,b	3,108±228a,b

a Compared to the control group, P<0.05;

b compared to the SAP group, P<0.05.

{ label (or @symbol) needed for fn[@id='tfn9-mmr-06-02-0287'] } SO, sham-operated; SAP, severe acute pancreatitis; MSC, mesenchymal stem cell.

Transplanted MSCs decrease the mRNA levels of TNF-α and SP in lung tissues of SAP rats

The mRNA expression levels of TNF-α and SP were markedly higher in the SAP group than in the SO group. The transplanted MSCs increased the expression levels of TNF-α and SP mRNA in rats with SAP (Fig. 4).

Figure 4 Effects of transplanted mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and substance P (SP) mRNA transcription in rats. Six rats were studied in each experimental group. Results are expressed as the means ± SD. aP<0.05 vs. the sham-operated (SO) group; bP<0.05 vs. the severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) group.

Discussion

In the present study, we established an experimental model of sodium taurocholate-induced SAP that is characterized by systemic inflammation and MODS, particularly pancreatitis-associated lung injury. Compared to the controls, rats with SAP had increased pulmonary edema, higher MPO content in the lung tissue and higher serum AMS levels. The intravenous transplantation of MSCs attenuated pulmonary edema and inflammatory infiltration in the rats with SAP, and reduced the mRNA levels of TNF-α and SP in the lung tissues of the rats with SAP.

Pancreatitis-associated lung injury is the most frequent and serious systemic complication of SAP (8), which is characterized by pulmonary edema, inflammatory infiltration in pulmonary tissues and increased inflammatory mediators (9). Pancreatitis-associated lung injury exhibits a phenotype with diffuse alveolar damage, microvascular injury, type I pneumocyte necrosis and an influx of inflammatory cells, leading to injured endothelial and epithelial cells in lung tissues (10).

Recently, a certain study demonstrated that transplanted MSCs have strong immunoregulatory effects and reduce inflammation and damage to pancreatic tissue in a rat model of AP, as evidenced by the reduced expression of inflammatory mediators and cytokines (11). MSCs have been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects in a variety of diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (12), hepatitis (13) and peritonitis (14).

In our study, we found that transplanted MSCs reduced pancreatitis-associated lung injury in a rat model, attenuated pulmonary edema, and reduced inflammatory mediators in lung tissue, such as TNF-α and SP. TNF-α and SP have been introduced as two important factors in adjusting and controlling pancreatitis-associated lung injury. TNF-α expression plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ALI. Pancreatic inflammation-associated elastase activation induces TNF-α-mediated lung injury, and lung injury is markedly reduced in TNF-α-deficient animals (15). TNF-α also potently stimulates matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) release from PMNs, and induces PMN transmigration and resultant alveolar-capillary leakage in SAP (16). SP is the gene product of preprotachykinin-A, a type of neural peptide with a regulatory function in different phases of inflammation. In pancreatitis-associated lung injury, the integrity of epidermal and alveolar cells in the lungs is destroyed, leading to damaged vacuolar membranes in the alveoli and leaking capillaries, and subsequently pulmonary interstitial edema. Thus, SP plays an important pro-inflammatory role in regulating the severity of AP and pancreatitis-associated lung injury (17). Our study demonstrates that MSC transplantation significantly decreases TNF-α and SP mRNA levels, indicating that the severity of lung injury may be attenuated in rats with SAP.

MSCs also have an antioxidant effect and promote antioxidant components, such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (18), exhibiting a protective function against oxidative damage-induced apoptosis (19). Considering the oxidative stress effect of MPO activity, MSCs exhibit antioxidant effects, partly through the downregulation MPO activity, in rats with SAP. Furthermore, MPO activity is a marker of local leukocyte sequestration (20). Our study suggests that MSC transplantation attenuates pancreatitis-associated lung injury by inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines and leukocyte infiltration in lung tissues.

MSCs have a protective effect on lung injury in diseases other than SAP (21,22), indicating that MSCs have similar therapeutic targets in lung injury. However, multiple factors and inflammatory mediators participate in pancreatitis-associated lung injury. Therefore, further research is required to elucidate the exact mechanism behind the protective effect of MSCs on lung injury. A recent study showed that in chronic inflammation and lung injury, MSCs were converted into AT II epithelial cells, performing a tissue repair function (23). Whether this mechanism plays a role in our model requires further study.

In conclusion, MSC transplantation attenuates pulmonary edema and inflammation, and decreases the mRNA expression of TNF-α and SP in lung tissues of rats with pancreatitis-associated lung injury.

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the Medical and Health Research Project of the Nanjing Military Region (No. 08Z029).

References