Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Based Therapy of Inflammatory Lung Diseases: Current Understanding and Future Perspectives

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: C. Randall Harrell, Regenerative Processing Plant, LLC; Ruxana Sadikot, Emory University; Jose Pascual, University of Kragujevac; Crissy Fellabaum, Regenerative Processing Plant, LLC; Marina Gazdic Jankovic, University of Kragujevac; Nemanja Jovicic, University of Bern; Valentin Djonov, West Pasco Pulmonary Assoc.; Nebojsa Arsenijevic, University of Bern; Vladislav Volarevic, University of Bern
• Language: English
• Date: 2019-01-01
• Publisher: Hindawi
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2019 C. Randall Harrell et al.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/4236973
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Stem Cells International
• ISSN: 1687-966X
• Volume: 2019
• Start Page: 4236973
• End Page: 4236973
• Grant/Funding Information: This work was supported by the Novartis Foundation for Medical-Biological Research (Grant No. 16C197), Serbian Ministry of Science (ON175069, ON175103) and Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac (MP01/18).
• Keywords: lung tissue; immune response; chronic lung injury; tissue damage; acute lung injury; anti-inflammatory treatments; side effects; aberrant repair process; mesenchymal stem cells; fibrosis; corticosteroid therapy; lung function
• Research Categories: Biology, Genetics; Biology, Anatomy

Abstract

During acute or chronic lung injury, inappropriate immune response and/or aberrant repair process causes irreversible damage in lung tissue and most usually results in the development of fibrosis followed by decline in lung function. Inhaled corticosteroids and other anti-inflammatory drugs are very effective in patients with inflammatory lung disorders, but their long-term use is associated with severe side effects. Accordingly, new therapeutic agents that will attenuate ongoing inflammation and, at the same time, promote regeneration of injured alveolar epithelial cells are urgently needed. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are able to modulate proliferation, activation, and effector function of all immune cells that play an important role in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic inflammatory lung diseases. In addition to the suppression of lung-infiltrated immune cells, MSCs have potential to differentiate into alveolar epithelial cells in vitro and, accordingly, represent new players in cell-based therapy of inflammatory lung disorders. In this review article, we described molecular mechanisms involved in MSC-based therapy of acute and chronic pulmonary diseases and emphasized current knowledge and future perspectives related to the therapeutic application of MSCs in patients suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.