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. 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.