Bone Marrow and Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Alleviate Methotrexate-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Rat: Comparison with Dexamethasone.

The present study examined the therapeutic effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) in methotrexate (MTX)-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats as compared with dexamethasone (Dex). MTX (14 mg/kg, as a single dose/week for 2 weeks, p.o.) induced lung fibrosis as marked by elevation of relative lung weight, malondialdehyde, nitrite/nitrate, interleukin-4, transforming growth factor-β1, deposited collagen, as well as increased expression of Bax along with the reduction of reduced glutathione content and superoxide dismutase activity. These deleterious effects were antagonized after treatment either with BM-MSCs or AD-MSCs (2 × 10(6) cells/rat) 2 weeks after MTX to even a better extent than Dex (0.5 mg/kg/ for 7 days, p.o.). In conclusion, BM-MSC and AD-MSCs possessed antioxidant, antiapoptotic, as well as antifibrotic effects, which will probably introduce them as remarkable candidates for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.