Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, affects millions of people. With the rising pollution levels, the condition is spreading more aggressively. In addition to being a chronic disorder, COPD also elevates the susceptibility of severe health complications, contributing to considerable morbidity. Day-to-day activities grow more challenging as the illness worsens
Current medications temporarily relieve the symptoms, but cannot improve lung function.
Researchers are exploring regenerative medicine to develop more effective therapies. In particular, stem cell therapy shows potential to repair structural damage in the lungs and improve their function. This blog will explore how Stem Cell Treatment for COPD could potentially change the treatment approach.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Lungs inhale oxygen from the environment and deliver it to the blood while also exhaling carbon dioxide. This process requires consistent expansion and contraction of the lungs, especially the alveoli. COPD is a progressive disease that compromises airflow and lung structure. The two most common mechanisms of COPD are:
Chronic Bronchitis: This condition occurs due to persistent airway inflammation that produces too much mucus, obstructing the airways.
Emphysema: Inflammation also causes damage to the alveoli, reducing its elasticity and capacity to support gas exchange.
COPD arises due to inflammation. Exposure to triggers such as smoke, air pollution, fumes, gases, dust, etc., initiates an inflammatory reaction in the lungs. The reaction proceeds to recruit immune cells that stimulate the generation of free oxygen radicals and proteases to destroy the irritants. Eventually, long-term chronic inflammation results in damage to lung structure. Eventually, with every inflammatory reaction, the structural damage grows, diminishing the pulmonary function.
COPD Symptoms
The symptoms of COPD worsen over time. The airway constriction or blockage in COPD manifests as-
- Persistent cough
- Excessive sputum or mucus production
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
- Chest tightness or discomfort
- Wheezing or whistling sound during breathing
- Longer outward breathing than inhalation
- Puckered lips during breathing
Initially, breathlessness is noticeable during physical activity, but as the disease progresses, even minimal exertion can trigger it. Furthermore, advanced stages also show muscle wasting and bluish skin (due to low oxygen in the blood). The symptoms might be continuous or flare up after a certain period, especially in winters.
COPD Symptoms significantly impact quality of life as it progresses. It can lead to poor mental well-being due to long-term disability and loss of independence.
COPD Treatment Options
Although COPD cannot be cured, various treatments exist to manage the symptoms. They include a combination of lifestyle changes and medications.
Medicines can be categorized based on their mechanisms-
Bronchodilators: They dilate the airways using different mechanisms. For instance, beta-2 agonists relax the airway muscle while antimuscarinics prevent airway narrowing. While short-acting versions of these drugs provide immediate relief, long-acting drugs are suitable for maintenance therapy.
Anti-inflammatory Medications:
- These include corticosteroids, glucocorticoids, and phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitors.
- Generally, a combination of these two medications is prescribed for more comprehensive symptom control. Furthermore, antibiotics are recommended in case of lung infections.
- As part of holistic treatment, lifestyle modifications are advised, such as smoking cessation, avoiding irritants, regular exercise, a balanced diet, and managing stress.
- In severe cases, oxygen therapy provides external oxygen support. Surgical procedures include lung volume reduction surgery that removes parts of damaged lungs that trap air, or even a complete lung transplant.
Treatment Limitations
Although different treatment alternatives are available, they have a few drawbacks-
- No cure: All standard treatments act superficially, aiming at symptom management, not reversal of lung damage.
- Disease progression: Even with proper medication and lifestyle changes, COPD often worsens over time.
- Temporary Relief: Since medicines only act on symptoms, relief from them is temporary, mandating continuous and prolonged use.
- Side Effects: Prolonged use of steroids and other medications can result in weakened immunity and other health complications.
- Oxygen Dependence: Many patients with end-stage COPD require oxygen machines, which severely restricts mobility and independence.
- Surgical Treatment: Surgical treatment has high risk and is not suitable for many patients. The high cost and donor availability for transplant are a few other difficulties.
These shortcomings have compelled the scientists to research and develop more effective treatment modalities.
Stem Cell Treatment for COPD
Stem cell therapy offers a distinctive approach to conventional COPD treatment strategies. The focal point of stem cell treatment is to address the mechanism of disease and drive organ repair. It eliminates or reduces the disease from the root, alleviating the symptoms in the process. The potential of stem cell treatment in COPD to repair lungs and improve their function has undergone evaluation. Scientists particularly utilized mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) due to their higher availability and lower risk. MSCs mediate the following pathways to treat COPD.
- During structural damage, the lungs lose several cells via apoptosis. MSCs replenish the lost cell population by differentiating into lung cells and enhancing the survival of the existing cells.
- They alleviate the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin IL6, IL1β, and TNFα while augmenting the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines like IL-10 and TGFβ, reducing chronic inflammation- a key driver of lung damage.
- MSCs balance the ratio of proteases and anti-proteases to maintain the structural component of the tissue and its elasticity.
- These cells decrease the oxidative stress that causes cell damage.
Through these mechanisms, MSCs not only promote healing and regeneration but also halt the processes that exacerbate the disease. Animal studies have shown that MSC administration improved lung function via the exact mechanisms.
Expected Results from Stem Cell Treatment for COPD
Scientists have also analyzed the impact of the therapy on humans. Most clinical trials in this regard have shown favorable outcomes, such as
- Improvements in pulmonary function
- Reduce symptom worsening
- Decrease in breathlessness
- Lower levels of C-reactive protein
- Better quality of life
These studies also demonstrated that stem cell infusion did not cause serious complications. After the treatment regimen is optimized and extensive population studies are conducted, the therapy will be approved for routine use.
Final Thoughts
Among the common lung conditions is COPD. The damage to the lungs cannot be undone by its therapeutic choices, but they can control symptoms. The condition progressively worsens over time, leading to respiratory failure. Stem cell therapy represents a new avenue with its regenerative approach. It reduces the underlying pathways that damage lungs as well as induces damage repair. This two-pronged strategy has proven its effectiveness by substantial improvements in lung function. Although more research is needed, the potential of stem cell treatment cannot be underestimated. Advancells delivers this potential by offering premium-quality stem cells. GMP-compliant protocols and robust testing assure the quality and quantity of these cells.
FAQ’s
Q- How does stem cell treatment differ from traditional COPD treatments?
Traditional therapies focus on managing symptoms, but they cannot repair lung damage. Stem cell treatment aims to regenerate lung tissue and improve disease progression at the cellular level.
Q- Can stem cell treatment cure COPD?
Current research suggests it may help reduce inflammation, repair lung tissue damage, and improve pulmonary function. But stem cell treatment is not considered a cure for COPD.
Q- How is stem cell therapy for COPD administered?
Stem cells are administered via intravenous infusion. In some cases, direct delivery to the lungs is explored. The goal is to allow stem cells to travel to the lungs, reduce inflammation, and promote tissue repair.
Q- How long does it take to see results after stem cell treatment?
Some patients report improvements in breathing capacity and energy within a few weeks to months. However, results vary widely, and not every patient experiences noticeable benefits
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