References
Mesenchymal stem cells: application in chronic lung disease
Abstract
Chronic lung diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease and idiopathic lung fibrosis have limited treatment options and researchers are exploring new avenues to improve patient outcomes. Mesenchymal stem cell therapy has shown promising potential as a treatment option for chronic lung diseases, however, it is essential to note that it is still considered an experimental approach. Studies in animal models and some small-scale clinical trials have shown encouraging results. Mesenchymal stem cell therapy can reduce inflammation, promote tissue repair and potentially slow disease progression. However, it is crucial to understand that stem cell therapy is still in its early stages and many challenges and questions need to be addressed before widespread clinical application. Some of these challenges include determining optimal dose and delivery methods, ensuring the safety of the procedure, understanding long-term effects and addressing potential ethical concerns.
Regenerative medicine is a branch that aims to develop methods and procedures for the growth, restoration or replacement of damaged and diseased cells, tissues and organs. Stem cell treatment is a branch of regenerative medicine (Caplan, 1991). The principle of stem cell therapy is to overcome the inability to regenerate damaged tissue after acute or chronic disease. It is gaining ground as a therapeutic option for many conditions, both in human and veterinary medicine. Of particular interest are chronic respiratory diseases, responsible for a lower quality of life, resulting from the remodelling of the lung tissue and subsequent loss of functional tissue (Hirota and Martin, 2013).
By definition, stem cells are undifferentiated cells capable of self-renewal and differentiation into various specialised cells (Morrison et al, 1997). Depending on the source of the tissue, they are classified as embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells (Evans and Kaufman, 1981; Takahashi and Yamanaka, 2006). Based on their stage of development and their ability to differentiate, they are further classified into pluripotent and multipotent cells (Wagers and Weissman, 2004). Two types of stem cells are naturally present in the adult organism: bone marrow and peripheral blood contain haematopoietic stem cells, and non-haematopoietic (or mesenchymal) stem cells are found in many other adult tissues (Dulak et al, 2015). These cells are multipotent and can differentiate into different types of body cells. Mesenchymal stem cells are activated in the body when needed to replace dead, damaged or diseased cells (Caplan, 1991) and can differentiate into cells of bone, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, fat, skin, muscle, neuroglia and connective tissue (Caplan, 1991; Morrison et al, 1997; Dulak et al, 2015). Compared to other types of stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells are ethically more acceptable, and the acquisition, isolation and culture of a large number of stem cells is relatively straightforward.
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