Brain inflammation and injury at 48 h is not altered by human amnion epithelial cells in ventilated preterm lambs

Background Mechanical ventilation of preterm neonates is associated with neuroinflammation and an increased risk of adverse neurological outcomes. Human amnion epithelial cells (hAECs) have anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties. We aimed to determine if intravenous administration of hAECs to preterm lambs would reduce neuroinflammation and injury at 2 days of age. Methods Preterm lambs were delivered by cesarean section at 128−130 days’ gestation (term is ~147 days) and either ventilated for 48 h or humanely killed at birth. Lambs received 3 mL surfactant (Curosurf) via endotracheal tube prior to delivery (either with or without 90 × 10 6 hAECs) and 3 mL intravenous phosphate-buffered saline (with or without 90 × 10 6 hAECs, consistent with intratracheal treatment) after birth. Results Ventilation increased microglial activation, total oligodendrocyte cell number, cell proliferation and blood−brain barrier permeability ( P