Could mesenchymal stromal cells alleviate COPD-related inflammation?

In a new Phase I clinical trial, scientists from the University of Western Australia (Perth, Australia) have demonstrated that a novel mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) therapy can regulate inflammation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). There is currently no cure for COPD, a condition caused by inflammation of the lung leading to breathing difficulties that progressively worsen over time. The team’s study, recently published in the journal STEM CELLS Translational Medicine, explores a new method to treat this debilitating disease by using cell-based therapy. This regenerative technique uses MSCs derived from stem cells in the umbilical cord, bone...