Nano therapy for micro-preemies protects lungs, brain in lab study

Dr. Bernard Thébaud holds a very premature baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at The Ottawa Hospital.
Credit: The Ottawa Hospital

Very premature babies need extra oxygen and mechanical intervention to breathe, but this damages their lungs, causing a chronic lung disease called bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). These babies have smaller and weaker lungs that can’t send as much oxygen to their growing brains. The lack of oxygen during brain development can lead to learning disabilities, or problems walking, hearing and seeing.

There is no cure for BPD, but Dr. Bernard Thébaud and his team are hoping to change that. The team previously found that cells from the umbilical cord, called mesenchymal stromal cells or MSCs, could prevent BPD in newborn rats.

Now, a study in mice led by former team members Drs. Marissa Lithopoulos and Lannae Strueby and published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine shows that tiny particles released by these MSCs called extra-cellular vesicles are just as good at preventing BPD. Known as MSC-EVs or nanotherapies, these nano-sized particles have similar effects to MSCs but are easier to manufacture, store, and dose. Unlike MSCs, they can cross the blood-brain barrier, meaning they can travel into the brain after being injected into the blood stream. The researchers saw evidence that some MSC-EVs did reach the brain in this study, though most travelled to the lungs.

Not only did MSC-EVs prevent lung injury in this study, they also prevented brain injury. This was the first study to show that BPD impairs some of the key functions of brain stem cells. Brain stem cells can become all the different cells in the brain, and play an important role in brain development.

This study comes as Dr. Thébaud and his research team prepare to launch a phase I clinical trial to test the feasibility and safety of using MSCs to treat premature babies with BPD. They hope to evaluate MSC-EVs in future clinical trials.

“A therapy that improves lung and brain health would immensely benefit preterm babies with this chronic lung disease.” -Dr. Bernard Thébaud, neonatologist and senior scientist at The Ottawa Hospital and CHEO and professor at the University of Ottawa.

Full reference: Pulmonary and Neurologic Effects of Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Extracellular Vesicles in a Multifactorial Lung Injury Model. Marissa A. Lithopoulos, Lannae Strueby, Megan O’Reilly, Shumei Zhong, Marius A. Möbius, Farah Eaton, Moses Fung, Maria Hurskainen, Chanèle Cyr-Depauw, Colin Suen, Liqun Xu, Jennifer J.P. Collins, Arul Vadivel, Duncan J. Stewart, Dylan Burger, Bernard Thébaud. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.202012-4520OC. Published March 14, 2022.

Core resources:  Flow Cytometry and Cell Sorting Facility, High Content Imaging Core, Preclinical Imaging Core

Funding: This research was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Stem Cell Network, and the Ontario Institute of Regenerative Medicine, and enabled by generous donors to The Ottawa Hospital Foundation and the CHEO Foundation.

Media Contact
Amelia Buchanan
Senior Communication Specialist
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
613-297-8315
ambuchanan@ohri.ca

Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
DOI: 10.1164/rccm.202012-4520OC
Method of Research: Experimental study
Subject of Research: Animals
Article Title: Pulmonary and Neurologic Effects of Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Extracellular Vesicles in a Multifactorial Lung Injury Model
Article Publication Date: 14-Mar-2022

Media Contact

Amelia Buchanan
The Ottawa Hospital
ambuchanan@ohri.ca
Cell: 613-297-8315

www.ohri.ca

Media Contact

Amelia Buchanan
The Ottawa Hospital

All latest news from the category: Life Sciences and Chemistry

Articles and reports from the Life Sciences and chemistry area deal with applied and basic research into modern biology, chemistry and human medicine.

Valuable information can be found on a range of life sciences fields including bacteriology, biochemistry, bionics, bioinformatics, biophysics, biotechnology, genetics, geobotany, human biology, marine biology, microbiology, molecular biology, cellular biology, zoology, bioinorganic chemistry, microchemistry and environmental chemistry.

Back to home

Comments (0)

Write a comment

Newest articles

Coating for enhanced thermal imaging through hot windows

A team of Rice University scientists has solved a long-standing problem in thermal imaging, making it possible to capture clear images of objects through hot windows. Imaging applications in a…

circadian rhythm

Genes for the Adjustment of the “Internal Clock” are Closely Linked to the Aging Process

Age determines the genes that regulate our internal body clock. Intrigued by this biological function, the University Medical Center Halle published a study on the circadian rhythm linked to our…

Seals strategically scoot around the seas on icebergs

New study shows seal moms prefer slow and steady icebergs, while seals prefer faster ice in better foraging grounds later in the year. Harbor seals in icy regions use icebergs…