Potential therapeutic applications of placental-derived stem cells to combat tissue inflammation and fibrosis

Abstract

Lung and liver disease form a major cause of global morbidity and mortality. There is significant overlap in the prevalence of injuries that cause both liver and lung conditions. These include infections, toxins, and genetic factors. The critical step that characterizes major lung and liver disease is progressive and chronic injury. Notably, however, there are no effective treatments to address the ongoing damage to these organs. To this end, there is a suggestion that cellular therapy may indeed assist in replacing damaged cells, dampening inflammation, and thereby reduce the scarring or fibrosis. The plasticity, low immunogenicity, and immunomodulatory properties of placental-derived stem cells may offer an important option for the treatment of these diseases, and studies investigating this avenue are outlined in this chapter.