A new study in animal models has revealed that stem cell therapy can reduce lung inflammation in Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis.
Lung damage caused by COPD and cystic fibrosis, leads to impaired lung function and eventually respiratory failure. Mesenchymal stem cell therapy is currently being tested as a promising therapeutic approach for several incurable, degenerative lung diseases. However, there is still limited data available on the short and long-term effects of administering stem cell therapy in chronic respiratory disease.
The new research investigated the effectiveness of MSC therapy in a mouse model of chronic inflammatory lung disease, that reflects some of the vital features of diseases such as COPD and cystic fibrosis.
Researchers delivered stem cells intravenously to b-ENaC overexpressing mice @ 4 and 6 weeks of age prior to collecting samples tissues and cells from lungs @ 8 weeks. They compared these findings to a control group that has not received MSC therapy.
Results:
Results showed that inflammation significantly reduced in the group receiving MSC therapy. Cell counts of monocytes and neutrophils- both indicators of inflammation were significantly reduced after MSC therapy. Analysis of lung tissue revealed a reduction in the mean linear intercept and other measures of lung destruction in MSC treated mice.
MSC therapy reduced inflammation in the lung and showed significant improvement in lung structure, suggesting that this form of treatment has potential to repair the damaged lung.
These preliminary findings demonstrate the potential effectiveness of MSC treatment as a means of repariring the damage caused by Chronic lung diseases such as COPD and cystic fibrosis. They also restore normal lung function in these patients.
Although further research is required to improve our understanding of how MSCs repair this damage, they suggest a promising role for MSC therapy in treating patients with chronic lung disease.
This study offers novel results in a pre-clinical model which demonstrates the potential of MSC stem cell therapy for the treatment of long-term lung conditions with exciting potential implications for the future treatment of patients with COPD and Cystic fibrosis. Though in earlier stages of application, this is one of the many cutting-edge abstracts.