Stem cell therapy for lung diseases: From fundamental aspects to clinical applications

Abstract

The respiratory system is a complex group of organs in the human body, all of which are necessary in breathing. Due to its special anatomy and composition, after exposure to various damaging factors such as micro particles, carbon granules and toxic gases, the respiratory system can be affected by a variety of damage without return to its original state. Currently, the prevalence of lung diseases, including asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, such as emphysema, has increased remarkably. New therapeutic approaches are desperately needed to discover regenerative medicine approaches, especially cell therapy. This review summarizes the recent advances in stem cell treatments and the research efforts conducted through the application of stem cell therapy for respiratory system diseases. In particular, researchers have used animal models to gather data about treating lung injury by stem cell transplantation. This review concentrated on the findings about route, timing and adjustment of cell transplantation dose, optimum stem cell type selection and potency marker of cells as therapeutic agents. These factors are essential subjects for approval and clinical transplantation. The current clinical trials aiming at treatment of lung diseases by stem cells are mentioned and discussed.

C‐Kit+ progenitors restore rat asthmatic lung function by modulation of T‐bet and GATA‐3 expression

“…Beyond enthusiasm and hope for patients with end‐stage diseases, it is naive to suppose complete therapeutic outcomes soon after transplantation of stem cells for cetain diseases (Yang & Jia, 2014). One reason would be that appropriate route, type and number of cells and timing of administration must be defined precisely (Hosseinirad et al., 2018). Most of the experiments have used Kit + cells for the restoration of different injured sites, especially cardiac tissue (Fransioli et al., 2008; Vajravelu et al., 2015).…”

“…Therefore, there is an increasing demand to use new methods for treating asthma based on the modulation of Th2 cells and their responses (Urbanek et al., 2016). Nowadays, clinicians and researchers have come to the conclusion that stem cell therapy is a promising therapeutic modality to overcome lung disorders (Aguiar et al., 2020; Hosseinirad et al., 2018; Lee, Choi, Oh, & Lee, 2018). However, a suitable cell type has not been identified to restore multiple pathologies after lung disorders (Hosseinirad et al., 2018; Ramachandran et al., 2015).…”

“…Nowadays, clinicians and researchers have come to the conclusion that stem cell therapy is a promising therapeutic modality to overcome lung disorders (Aguiar et al., 2020; Hosseinirad et al., 2018; Lee, Choi, Oh, & Lee, 2018). However, a suitable cell type has not been identified to restore multiple pathologies after lung disorders (Hosseinirad et al., 2018; Ramachandran et al., 2015). Therefore, the optimal stem cell type, number, origin and route of administration remain to be elucidated (Hosseinirad et al., 2018).…”

“…However, a suitable cell type has not been identified to restore multiple pathologies after lung disorders (Hosseinirad et al., 2018; Ramachandran et al., 2015). Therefore, the optimal stem cell type, number, origin and route of administration remain to be elucidated (Hosseinirad et al., 2018).…”

A biomaterials approach to Schwann cell development in neural tissue engineering

“…However, they have major limitations such as site harvesting and tumor formation due to their high proliferation without differentiation (Heine, Conant, Griffin, & Höke, ; Lee et al, ). Mesenchymal stem cells are more attractive multipotent stem cells derived from adipose tissues, bone marrow, dental pulp, skin, hair follicle, and amniotic fluid (Hosseinirad et al, ). Mesenchymal stem cells have proangiogenic capabilities, immune regulatory properties, ability to differentiate into myelinating and nonmyelinating Schwann cells under specific induction environment, easy accessibility procedure, less side effects and less ethical implications in comparison with embryonic stem cells (Faroni et al, ; Leach & Whitehead, ; Lehmann & Höke, ; Mahay, Terenghi, & Shawcross, ; Uz et al, ).…”