Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Abstract

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an inexorably progressive lung disease of unknown origin. Prognosis is poor, with limited treatment options available, and the median survival remains just 3–5 years. Despite the use of pirfenidone and nintedanib for the treatment of IPF, curative therapies remain elusive and mortality remains high. Regenerative medicine and the use of cell-based therapies has recently emerged as a potential option for various diseases. Promising results of preclinical studies using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) suggest that they may represent a potential therapeutic option for the treatment of chronic lung diseases including IPF. Encouraging results of Phase 1 studies of MSCs various have reduced safety concerns. Nonetheless, there is still a pressing need for exploratory biomarkers and interval end-points in the context of MSCs investigation. This review intends to summarize the current state of knowledge for stem cells in the experimental and clinical setting of IPF, present important safety and efficacy issues, highlight future challenges and address the need for large, multicenter clinical trials coupled with realistic end-points, including biomarkers, to assess treatment efficacy.

Placenta-Derived Cell Therapy to Treat Patients With Respiratory Failure Due to Coronavirus Disease 2019

“…Indeed, PLX-PAD, a MSC-like product, has been shown to have such immunomodulatory properties ( 19 ). In addition, MSCs are known for their powerful antifibrotic effects and may alleviate lung fibrosis ( 30 , 31 ).…”

Cell-based therapy to reduce mortality from COVID-19: Systematic review and meta-analysis of human studies on acute respiratory distress syndrome

“…[15][16][17] In addition, MSCs have powerful antifibrotic effects and may alleviate lung fibrosis. 18,19 An urgent question is whether large-scale clinical trials and compassionate use of MSC therapy should be instituted to treat COVID-19-induced ARDS. To address this question, we systematically reviewed the available literature on safety, efficacy, and cytokine responses to MSC therapies in patients with ARDS.…”

Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) Modulate the Inflammatory Character of Alveolar Macrophages from Sarcoidosis Patients

“…Although idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and sarcoidosis are different diseases, these data are important when thinking about cell therapy of sarcoidosis as M2 macrophages have been suggested to increase pulmonary fibrosis [50]. Whether MSCs inhibit or promote fibrosis in the human lung is currently unknown, although there is evidence in mice of both pro and antifibrotic activity [51].…”