Is the mesenchymal stem cell a new hope for the management of COPD?

Abstract Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and inflicts substantial public health challenge for all human beings. It is characterized by destructive emphysematous changes and thickened bronchiolar walls with inflammation infiltration and luminal mucus occlusion. Current therapies can partly alleviate respiratory symptoms, but not prevent disease progression or reduce mortality. Therefore, novel approaches with less adverse reactions and more therapeutic effects are desperately needed for COPD. Stem cells with rigorous differentiation and regeneration properties have been investigated in many regressive and injurious diseases. Because of immunosupression, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can modulate local and systemic inflammatory and immune responses, which have been extensively studied in inflammatory lung disease, such as COPD, asthma, and acute lung injury. In this review, we will describe the effect of MSCs on COPD, both in preclinical and clinical studies, and further discuss the underlying mechanisms of MSCs on COPD in recent years.
Source: Current Respiratory Care Reports - Category: Respiratory Medicine Source Type: research