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Argues that operations strategy research should integrate recent theories from the resource-based view of strategic management. Going beyond the model of Hayes and Wheelwright, this would call for the end of the market-based view, where operations strategy merely follows the directions set by the marketing function. It would emphasize the dynamic development and leveraging of competencies and capabilities in order to set new business diversification strategies. A new paradigm of operations strategy could emerge, where "management fundamentals" such as learning and culture would be actively integrated within operations, in order to become key sources of competitive advantage. Accordingly, the operations function could progressively: take the leadership of strategy formulation; create "portfolios" of optional capabilities for strategies of organizational agility; and implement world-class practices more effectively through evolutionary strategic frameworks.

Editor’s Perspective What We Already Know about This Topic What This Article Tells Us That Is New Background Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells possess considerable therapeutic promise for acute respiratory distress syndrome. Umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells may exert therapeutic effects via extracellular vesicles, while priming umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells may further enhance their effect. The authors investigated whether interferon-γ–primed umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells would generate mesenchymal stromal cell–derived extracellular vesicles with enhanced effects in Escherichia coli (E. coli) pneumonia. Methods In a university laboratory, anesthetized adult male Sprague–Dawley rats (n = 8 to 18 per group) underwent intrapulmonary E. coli instillation (5 × 109 colony forming units per kilogram), and were randomized to receive (a) primed mesenchymal stromal cell–derived extracellular vesicles, (b) naïve mesenchymal stromal cell–derived extracellular vesicles (both 100 million mesenchymal stromal cell–derived extracellular vesicles per kilogram), or (c) vehicle. Injury severity and bacterial load were assessed at 48 h. In vitro studies assessed the potential for primed and naïve mesenchymal stromal cell–derived extracellular vesicles to enhance macrophage bacterial phagocytosis and killing. Results Survival increased with primed (10 of 11 [91%]) and naïve (8 of 8 [100%]) mesenchymal stromal cell–derived extracellular vesicles compared with vehicle (12 of 18 [66.7%], P = 0.038). Primed—but not naïve—mesenchymal stromal cell–derived extracellular vesicles reduced alveolar–arterial oxygen gradient (422 ± 104, 536 ± 58, 523 ± 68 mm Hg, respectively; P = 0.008), reduced alveolar protein leak (0.7 ± 0.3, 1.4 ± 0.4, 1.5 ± 0.7 mg/ml, respectively; P = 0.003), increased lung mononuclear phagocytes (23.2 ± 6.3, 21.7 ± 5, 16.7 ± 5 respectively; P = 0.025), and reduced alveolar tumor necrosis factor alpha concentrations (29 ± 14.5, 35 ± 12.3, 47.2 ± 6.3 pg/ml, respectively; P = 0.026) compared with vehicle. Primed—but not naïve—mesenchymal stromal cell–derived extracellular vesicles enhanced endothelial nitric oxide synthase production in the injured lung (endothelial nitric oxide synthase/β-actin = 0.77 ± 0.34, 0.25 ± 0.29, 0.21 ± 0.33, respectively; P = 0.005). Both primed and naïve mesenchymal stromal cell–derived extracellular vesicles enhanced E. coli phagocytosis and bacterial killing in human acute monocytic leukemia cell line (THP-1) in vitro (36.9 ± 4, 13.3 ± 8, 0.1 ± 0.01%, respectively; P = 0.0004) compared with vehicle. Conclusions Extracellular vesicles from interferon-γ–primed human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells more effectively attenuated E. coli–induced lung injury compared with extracellular vesicles from naïve mesenchymal stromal cells, potentially via enhanced macrophage phagocytosis and killing of E. coli.

BackgroundAmong patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), females have worse pulmonary function and survival than males, primarily due to chronic lung inflammation and infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). A role for gender hormones in the causation of the CF "gender gap" has been proposed. The female gender hormone 17β-estradiol (E2) plays a complex immunomodulatory role in humans and in animal models of disease, suppressing inflammation in some situations while enhancing it in others. Helper T-cells were long thought to belong exclusively to either T helper type 1 (Th1) or type 2 (Th2) lineages. However, a distinct lineage named Th17 is now recognized that is induced by interleukin (IL)-23 to produce IL-17 and other pro-inflammatory Th17 effector molecules. Recent evidence suggests a central role for the IL-23/IL-17 pathway in the pathogenesis of CF lung inflammation. We used a mouse model to test the hypothesis that E2 aggravates the CF lung inflammation that occurs in response to airway infection with P. aeruginosa by a Th17-mediated mechanism.ResultsExogenous E2 caused adult male CF mice with pneumonia due to a mucoid CF clinical isolate, the P. aeruginosa strain PA508 (PA508), to develop more severe manifestations of inflammation in both lung tissue and in bronchial alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, with increased total white blood cell counts and differential and absolute cell counts of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (neutrophils). Inflammatory infiltrates and mucin production were increased on histology. Increased lung tissue mRNA levels for IL-23 and IL-17 were accompanied by elevated protein levels of Th17-associated pro-inflammatory mediators in BAL fluid. The burden of PA508 bacteria was increased in lung tissue homogenate and in BAL fluid, and there was a virtual elimination in lung tissue of mRNA for lactoferrin, an antimicrobial peptide active against P. aeruginosa in vitro.ConclusionsOur data show that E2 increases the severity of PA508 pneumonia in adult CF male mice, and suggest two potential mechanisms: enhancement of Th17-regulated inflammation and suppression of innate antibacterial defences. Although this animal model does not recapitulate all aspects of human CF lung disease, our present findings argue for further investigation of the effects of E2 on inflammation and infection with P. aeruginosa in the CF lung.