Could Stem Cell Therapy Be an Alternative Treatment for Lung Diseases?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects millions of people in the U.S. and is the nation’s third leading cause of illness-related death. This chronic inflammatory lung disease is characterized by obstructed airflow from the lungs, resulting in breathing challenges, cough, and wheezing. Two conditions which contribute to COPD are emphysema, in which the alveoli at the end of the air passages have been compromised, and chronic bronchitis, or persistent inflammation of the bronchial tubes.

While COPD can be managed through therapies such as inhalers, steroids, antibiotics, oxygen therapy, and pulmonary rehabilitation programs, exacerbations of the condition may still occur. There is currently no cure, and surgical options such as lung transplants and lung volume reductions may be explored in severe cases.

Now, however, a new alternative treatment for lung diseases has emerged: stem cell therapy.

Stem Cell Therapy as an Alternative Treatment for Lung Diseases

Stem cells are the body’s natural healing mechanism. They have anti-inflammatory properties and can repair damaged tissue through regeneration, with the ability to self-renew and give rise to specialized cell types, such as lung cells. Either from donors or the patient themselves, stem cells can be harvested and strategically administered to heal damaged tissue.

Stem cell therapies have already been applied successfully to other conditions and are a promising new alternative treatment for COPD. It appears that these cells deliver signals to host cells, triggering a regenerative mechanism against the destruction of the alveoli in COPD patients. Moreover, mesenchymal stem cells have shown powerful beneficial effects in a number of lung conditions, including bacterial pneumonia and emphysema. They work by reducing inflammation in the airways and prompting regenerative effects in the lungs.

In studies, stem cell therapy for lung conditions has been tolerated well by patients and side effects have been very limited, suggesting a safe and effective alternative to invasive surgeries or lung treatments which have failed to produce desired results. Thus, this new treatment could hold the key to helping patients whose quality of life has been affected by lung conditions.

This post was written by Becky Palmer, a medical professional at Stemedix Inc. At Stemedix we offer Regenerative Medicine, also known as Stem Cell Therapy in Tampa, this therapy naturally acts to rebuild and regenerate neural tissues that are lost from the progression of all different types of diseases.