ATC Abstracts

American Transplant Congress abstracts

  • Home
  • Meetings Archive
    • 2022 American Transplant Congress
    • 2021 American Transplant Congress
    • 2020 American Transplant Congress
    • 2019 American Transplant Congress
    • 2018 American Transplant Congress
    • 2017 American Transplant Congress
    • 2016 American Transplant Congress
    • 2015 American Transplant Congress
    • 2013 American Transplant Congress
  • Keyword Index
  • Resources
    • 2021 Resources
    • 2016 Resources
      • 2016 Welcome Letter
      • ATC 2016 Program Planning Committees
      • ASTS Council 2015-2016
      • AST Board of Directors 2015-2016
    • 2015 Resources
      • 2015 Welcome Letter
      • ATC 2015 Program Planning Committees
      • ASTS Council 2014-2015
      • AST Board of Directors 2014-2015
      • 2015 Conference Schedule
  • Search

Effects of Mast Cell Stabilization on the Development of Aspiration-Induced Fibrosis in a Rat Model

E. Sapmaz, Z. Sun, J.-C. Chang, N. Sanders, S. Bell, M. Everett, Z. Holzknecht, W. Parker, R. Davis, S. Lin.

Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC.

Meeting: 2015 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: A248

Keywords: Lung, Rat

Session Information

Session Name: Poster Session A: Preclinical Immunosuppression and Tolerance

Session Type: Poster Session

Date: Saturday, May 2, 2015

Session Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm

 Presentation Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm

Location: Exhibit Hall E

Gastric fluid aspiration affects a great number of lung transplant recipients, both before and after the transplant, and can contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality. With the hypothesis that mast cells are instrumental in the pathogenesis of aspiration-induced lung injury, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of cromolyn, a well-established mast cell stabilizer, on the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis in a rat aspiration model.

Male Fischer 344 rats were aspirated weekly with 700 ul/kg of gastric fluid for 8 weeks with (GFC, n=10) and without (GF, n=10) treatment with cromolyn (150 mg/kg subcutaneously daily and 50mg/ml aerosolized prior to aspiration events). Controls (n=10) received aspiration with saline only. Airway inflammation, parenchymal fibrosis (Figure), and average mast cell numbers per airway were significantly reduced in the GFC group compared to the GF group (p=0.0256, 0.0440, and 0.004, respectively). However, no significant difference in perivascular infiltrates between the GF and GFC groups was observed. Cromolyn improved lung compliance (p=0.0269 compared to GF at 250 mmH2O) and reduced IL-12p40 and TGF-β1 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of the GFC group compared to the GF group. Further, a significant reduction in IL-12p40, VEGF-α, and CCL11 in the lung parenchyma of the GFC group compared to the GF group was observed.

This study suggests that cromolyn therapy dampens the development of pulmonary fibrosis by affecting key immunologic players in the fibrotic pathway. Reduced IL-12p40 may reflect a decrease in macrophage activation, and reduced levels of VEGF-α and CCL11 in lung parenchyma may indicate reduced vascular permeability and chemotaxis of eosinophils, respectively. Cromolyn also appears to reduce fibrosis by reducing TGF-β1, a known promoter of fibroblast proliferation and subepithelial fibrosis. This study suggests that mast cells are important in the pathogenesis of aspiration-induced fibrosis, and that clinical trials with cromolyn in this setting may be worthwhile.

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Sapmaz E, Sun Z, Chang J-C, Sanders N, Bell S, Everett M, Holzknecht Z, Parker W, Davis R, Lin S. Effects of Mast Cell Stabilization on the Development of Aspiration-Induced Fibrosis in a Rat Model [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2015; 15 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/effects-of-mast-cell-stabilization-on-the-development-of-aspiration-induced-fibrosis-in-a-rat-model/. Accessed May 31, 2025.

« Back to 2015 American Transplant Congress

Visit Our Partner Sites

American Transplant Congress (ATC)

Visit the official site for the American Transplant Congress »

American Journal of Transplantation

The official publication for the American Society of Transplantation (AST) and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) »

American Society of Transplantation (AST)

An organization of more than 3000 professionals dedicated to advancing the field of transplantation. »

American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS)

The society represents approximately 1,800 professionals dedicated to excellence in transplantation surgery. »

Copyright © 2013-2025 by American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Cookie Preferences