Cell Therapy versus Lung Fibrosis

In recent years the research community has made some progress towards the use of cell therapies to treat fibrosis in lung tissue, the basis for a number of ultimately fatal conditions that present cannot be effectively controlled. Fibrosis is a disruption of the structure of tissue, the formation of scar-like structures that degrade tissue function. This line of research may soon be overtaken by the use of senolytic treatments to remove senescent cells, given that senescent cells appear to be a significant cause of the age-related failures in regenerative processes that cause fibrosis. Nonetheless, prior to recent work on cellular senescence and fibrosis, cell therapies were the most promising approach. Here, researchers report on recent progress in this part of the field: Promising research points towards a possible stem cell treatment for several lung conditions, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cystic fibrosis. These diseases of the lung involve the buildup of fibrous, scar-like tissue, typically due to chronic lung inflammation. As this fibrous tissue replaces working lung tissue, the lungs become less able to transfer oxygen to the blood. In the case of IPF, which has been linked to smoking, most patients live for fewer than five years after diagnosis. The two drug treatments for IPF reduce symptoms but do not stop the underlying disease process. The only effective treatment is a lung transplant, whic...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs