The potential of factors released from mesenchymal stromal cells as therapeutic agents in the lung

Abstract

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are increasingly being investigated for use in cell-based therapies of a range of inflammatory and immune-mediated conditions, including lung diseases such as the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), silicosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). A large body of evidence suggests that, despite direct cell-to-cell contact, MSCs can act through paracrine mechanisms, including release of soluble immunomodulatory mediators, extracellular vesicles (EVs), and even through mitochondrial transfer. This chapter will provide a detailed discussion of the role of conditioned media, EVs, and organelles produced by mesenchymal stromal cells in experimental models of lung disorders and critical illness, as well as in clinical trials.