Recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor versus bone marrow mononuclear cells in treatment of pulmonary emphysema model

Background: Stem cells therapy is a new therapeutic approach for pulmonary emphysema. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is effective in tissue regeneration through mobilization of stem cells to different organs. So, in this study we compared the effect of filgrastim (175 amino acid recombinant human G-CSF) versus bone marrow mononuclear cells on apoptosis and repair of air spaces in lipopolysaccharide induced emphysema in C57Bl/6 mice. Methods: The mice were classified into 4 groups: group A: mice not received any treatment, group B: mice received intranasal instillation of lipopolysaccharide repeated three times per week for 8 weeks, group C: mice received a dose of intravenous bone marrow mononuclear cells (0.3 ml of cell suspension at a concentration of 2 × 106 cells/ml) after instillation and evaluated 5 weeks later and group D: mice received subcutaneous filgrastim three subcutaneous injections a week for 7 weeks (100 microgram/kg/injection) after lipopolysaccharide instillation. Imaging analysis was done using imagej program. Results: Concerning the mean of air space equivalent diameter (D0) and (D1), no differences were observed between the bone marrow mononuclear cells treated mice and filgrastim treated mice. As regard apoptotic index, no significant difference was found between filgrastim and BMMNCs treated groups. Conclusion: These results indicate nearly similar effectiveness of both filgrastim and BMMNCs in treatment of lipopolysaccharide induced pulmonary emphysema