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A cell-based therapy for treating lung tissue damaged by respiratory diseases is showing promise in early stage trials, scientists at Imperial College London and Hong Kong University report. The aim of the current study was to systematically review and conduct a meta-analysis on the published pre-clinical studies of MSC administration in the treatment of COPD in animal models. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a specialised programme of exercise and education designed to help people with lung problems such as COPD.

Having in mind that MSCs have the capacity to generate ATII cells and that injury of ATII cells and alveolar-epithelial barrier represents the main pathological characteristic observed in patients suffering from ARDS, several experimental studies investigated the therapeutic potential of MSCs in the treatment of ARDS.

Asthma alone is not associated with COPD, but the effects of the condition on the lungs over a long period could lead to COPD. Umbilical cords and cord blood can provide embryonic stem cells without the need for a fetus. Thus, regenerative therapeutic methods have been initiated to repair or replace the alveolar epithelial cells.

Specifically, for COPD treatment, stem cells have the ability to prevent the formation of fibrous tissue and thus benefit the routine, natural repair of the lung. While stem cell therapy cannot completely cure COPD, it can reduce the severity of its effects, allowing you to climb stairs, hold your grandchildren, and do all those things you have been sitting out.

This systematic review and meta-analysis suggest a promising role for MSCs in COPD treatment. It is estimated that global prevalence of this pathology is around 210 million patients with 80 million already in moderate or severe stages of the disease. Their research, published in today's edition of the journal Cell Stem Cell , will likely have far-reaching implications in the study of inherited lung stem cell therapy for lungs disease.

Amniotic fluid stem cells: a promising therapeutic resource for cell-based regenerative therapy. Human mesenchymal stromal cells exert HGF dependent cytoprotective effects in a human relevant pre-clinical model of COPD. With these limitations of standard modalities of therapy, it is attractive to pursue novel regenerative therapies that may be capable of restoring pulmonary function and structures such as airways, terminal bronchioles and alveoli.