Lung regeneration with rat fetal lung implantation and promotion of alveolar stem cell differentiation by corticosteroids. Lung regeneration with rat fetal lung implantation and promotion of alveolar stem cell differentiation by corticosteroids

Fetal lung tissue fragments were implanted into adult lungs and miRNA expression at day 7 were compared. microRNA-487-3p, 374-5p, and 20b-5p expression changed by more than 2-fold in corticosteroid administration groups. Overall design: Fetal lung tissue fragments were obtained from Lewis rats on day 17 and implanted into adult lungs. Animals were divided in the following three groups: group 1, injection into the adult left lung parenchyma; group 2, injection with post-caval lobectomy; and group 3, injection with post-caval lobectomy and corticosteroid administration. For each group, microscopic alveolar space area, CT value, fluorescence immunostaining, and miRNA expression were compared. MS-, fetal lung implantation into the adult left lung parenchyma; MS+,implantation with post-caval lobectomy; and DEX, implantation with post-caval lobectomy and corticosteroid administration.