New Stem Cell Approach Could Halt Acute Lung Damage (ALI)
Stem cell researchers exploring a new approach for the care of respiratory diseases report that an experimental treatment involving transplantable lung cells was associated with improved outcomes in tests (on mice) with acute lung injury. The lung cells were derived from human embryonic stem cells.
Acute lung injury (ALI) is a common, lethal, and complex syndrome. Estimates … of (attributed) mortality from ALI or its more severe form, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) places it above asthma and human immunodeficiency virus infection as a cause of death in the US. The current mortality of 35% associated with ALI is roughly 3-fold higher than that associated with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (type of heart attack).
Findings by investigators at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston appeared in the (3/10) issue of Molecular Therapy. In this paper Dr. Rick Wetsel and colleagues showed results using hES in an ALI mouse models. The model was a bleomycin induced acute lung injury. Bleomycin is used in a chemotherapy treatment for lung cancer. The mice were monitored for 360-400 days and no signs of regression or tumorgenesis were seen. Repair/regenerative signs were seen 4 days after the stem cells were sprayed into the mouse trachea. SCID (Severe Combined Immunodeficiency) mice were used for this initial experiment and further studies would have to be done to address immune problems using non-SCID mice. However, graft rejection studies will be part of going forward.
- It could be a 5 year development pre and clinical time frame if the initial models succeed,
- Transplantation of pulmonary progenitor cells derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) may provide a novel approach to regenerate endogenous lung cells destroyed by injury and disease,
- Without experiencing tumorigenic side effects, lung injury was abrogated in mice transplanted with hES-ATIICs, demonstrated by recovery of body weight and arterial blood oxygen saturation, decreased collagen deposition, and increased survival,
- The transplantation of hES-ATIICs shows promise as an effective therapeutic to treat acute lung injury. (Author Abstract)
