We read with much interest the recently published article, “Human amnion epithelial cells as a treatment for inflammation-induced fetal lung injury in sheep,” by Vosdoganes et al. We wish to share a few scientific facts related to this interesting article.

We raise concern regarding the method, when the ewe was injected with 1 g of intravenous ampicillin prior to the procedure, which we guess was the prophylaxis. The research agents then were injected at 0, 6, and 12 hours thereafter.

In the findings, the authors claimed that human amnion epithelial cells (hAECs) are: (1) capable of attenuating pulmonary inflammation in the fetus; and (2) viable to reduce lung inflammation and developmental arrests that characterize bronchopulmonary dysplasia. We wish to query the effect of the prophylaxis intravenous ampicillin (1 g). As the experimental substances were administered within the effect of ampicillin, we wonder whether the effect of ampicillin itself could nullify the inflammation induced by the research substances, as it crossed the placenta. Hence, the important question raised is whether the findings of the study were truly the effect of hAECs, given the presence of antibiotic, or if further clarification is needed.

The study also opens the door for future studies that may describe the exact role of hAECs during a particular week of the embryological period. An important question asked is the role of hAECs in other anomalies resulting due to defective development of the lung. We appreciate the authors and editor for publishing an important clinical article that may be beneficial to clinicians.