Treating asthma with stem cells

Study shows multiple doses of stem cells can reduce lung inflammation and remodeling that results from house dust mite-induced allergic asthma.

Asthma and its impact

Asthma affects approximately 1-18% of the population worldwide. It is triggered by allergens that enter the lung, and cause swelling of the airways. It makes breathing difficult, triggers coughing and wheezing, leaving those affected out of breath. In the most extreme cases, asthma can even lead to death.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease, triggered by the activation of the immune system by allergens. While inflammation is beneficial in the short term because it allows the immune system to respond to injuries or pathogens, long-term or chronic inflammation can be damaging. If not treated, chronic inflammation can lead to the remodelling of airways and the lungs.

Repairing remodeled lung tissue

Traditionally asthma patients are treated with corticosteroids to reduce the inflammation. However, this does not reverse the remodeling that happens in the airways and the lungs. Thus, corticosteroid treatment can lead to poor control or even worsening of symptoms in some patients.

The study highlighted here addressed the above issues. The researchers hypothesized that multiple doses of stem cells would reduce lung inflammation and remodeling, as well have an overall immunosuppressive effect by turning off the immune system.

Potential of mesenchymal stem cells

To test their hypothesis, they made use of an allergy model in mice. One group was challenged with house dust mite (HDM) extracts, while the control group was not. Once the model was established, the next step involved the treatment. These researchers chose to use mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

MSCs have unlimited regenerative potential. They also act as a medical surveillance team in the body fighting inflammation, allowing cells to regenerate. This would make them useful for turning off the chronic inflammation seen in lung disease. The study explored three different types of treatments: 1) two doses of MSCs, 2) three doses of MSCs and 3) dexamethasone, a steroid used to treat experimental asthma, which was compared to the 4) control group injected with saline.