Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells for treatment of airway injuries in a patient after long-term exposure to sulfur mustard

Objective: Sulfur mustard [SM] is a potent mutagenic agent that targets several organs, particularly lung tissue. Changes in morphological structure of the airway system are associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary deficiency following exposure to SM. Although numerous studies have demonstrated pathological effects of SM on respiratory organs, unfortunately there is no effective treatment to inhibit further respiratory injuries or induce repair in these patients. Due to the extensive progress and achievements in stem cell therapy, we have aimed to evaluate safety and potential efficacy of systemic mesenchymal stem cell [MSC] administration on a SM-exposed patient with chronic lung injuries

Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial study, our patient received 100x106 cells every 20 days for 4 injections over a 2-month period. After each injection we evaluated the safety, pulmonary function tests [PFT], chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] Assessment Test [CAT], St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire [SGRQ], Borg Scale Dyspnea Assessment [BSDA], and 6 Minute Walk Test [6MWT]. One-way ANOVA test was used in this study which was not significant [P>0.05]

Results: There were no infusion toxicities or serious adverse events caused by MSC administration. Although there was no significant difference in PFTs, we found a significant improvement for 6MWT, as well as BSDA, SGRQ, and CAT scores after each injection

Conclusion: Systemic MSC administration appears to be safe in SM-exposed patients with moderate to severe injuries and provides a basis for subsequent cell therapy investigations in other patients with this disorder

Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies recognizing a common 57-kDA antigen of leishmania species

The therapy of leishmania infection is difficult and each year 1.5 million new cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis and 500,000 new cases of visceral leishmaniasis are estimated, therefore, there is a need for an effective vaccine. Monoclonal antibody [mAb] is one of the suitable methods for isolation and purification of leishmania antigens. In this report, we produced several mAb against leishmania infantum antigens for antigen purification to be used as candidate vaccine. BALB/c mice were injected with freeze-thawed promastigote twice together with Freund adjuvant. Three days before fusion, antigen in saline was injected into the tail vain and then mice were killed and the spleen lymphocytes were fused with myeloma SP2/0. Five mAb against promastigote form of Leishmania infantum parasite were obtained. Western-blot analysis showed that these mAb recognize a band of 57- kDa protein either in parasite lysate or on whole L. infantum, L. tropica, L. major and L. donovani. It seems that the 57 kDa-protein is the major surface leishmania antigen [gp63] that is neither stage-specific nor differentially regulated. These mAb do not recognize the recombinant gp63 antigen and seems recognizing only the native form of a gp63 isoform. The IgG1 mAb was purified by affinity column and was used to purify 57 kDa antigens from Leishmania lysate. Since these antibodies recognizing one specific protein band in 4 different strains of leishmania, they could be used for leishmania diagnostic kits and also for purification of antigen to be tested for its protective effect against leishmania infection