Figure 2

hASCs and mASCs improved severity of lung injury. Representative H&E lung sections 72 hours following LPS challenge for mice treated with (a) HBSS (N = 5), (b) hASCs (N = 5), or (c) mASCs (N = 5). Comparisons at the alveolar level (enlarged images) show decreased cellularity, septal thickening, and exudation when hASCs or mASCs were administered following LPS challenge. Levels of (d) protein and (e) albumin in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were used to assess the extent of vascular leakage after HBSS or ASC treatment. Control groups with intact or PBS-challenged mice were included to assess any changes in these levels due to the injection method or cell treatment. Values were presented as fold changes relative to intact, untreated mice. For (d) and (e), N = 3, 6, 6, 10, 9, and 10 for Intact, PBS + hASC, PBS + mASC, LPS + HBSS, LPS + hASC, and LPS + mASC, respectively. Significance was defined as ** and *** for P <0.01 and P <0.001, respectively, for comparison of the experimental cell treatment groups to the HBSS-treated LPS-challenged mice. ASC, adipose-derived stem cell; hASCs, human adipose-derived stem cells; HBSS, Hank's balanced salt solution; H&E, hematoxylin and eosin; LPS, lipopolysaccharide; mASCs, mouse adipose-derived stem cells; PBS, phosphate-buffered saline.