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Implications for Subglottic Stenosis

Vlad C. Sandulache, BS; Joseph E. Dohar, MD, MS; Patricia A. Hebda, PhD

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2005;131:1090-1096.

Objective  Because subglottic stenosis (SGS) represents one of the most challenging pathologies confronting the pediatric otolaryngologist, our laboratory is investigating the role fibroblasts play in mucosal scar formation in the course of SGS development. Our objective is to establish cell transplantation into the subglottic mucosal wound bed as a viable tool for examining the cellular processes that underlie the development of SGS.

Design  A series of 2 animal experiments, with animals assigned to a control, vehicle-only, or cell-treated group.

Setting  John G. Rangos Sr Research Center, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Subjects  Twenty-six New Zealand white rabbits. This animal model has been well established in the study of SGS formation.

Interventions  Fluorescently labeled exogenous fibroblasts were transplanted into the injured subglottis of the rabbits.

Results  Exogenous fibroblasts derived from fetal and adult dermis and subglottic mucosa were successfully transplanted into the injured subglottic mucosa of adult rabbits. Transplanted fibroblasts survived into the latter stages of wound healing (at 14 and 21 days) and appeared to be associated with a mild inflammatory cell influx and active remodeling of the mucosal wound bed.

Conclusion  Cell transplantation is a viable tool for the study of fibroblast activity in the mucosal wound bed.

Author Affiliations: Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh (Mr Sandulache and Drs Dohar and Hebda), Departments of Otolaryngology (Mr Sandulache and Drs Dohar and Hebda) and Cell Biology and Physiology (Dr Hebda), Cellular and Molecular Pathology Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (Mr Sandulache and Dr Hebda), and McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine (Mr Sandulache and Drs Dohar and Hebda), Pittsburgh, Pa.