There is no doubt that the respiratory system is a complex device as well as an interesting one. Not long ago an unknown organ of the body was discovered in the lungs; Therefore, the level of understanding we have achieved in this regard is astonishing. It has come to the point that A group of Chinese researchers successfully regenerated diseased lung tissue,
Research mainly focuses on COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), which is Third most common cause of death in the world, according to WHO, caused approximately 3.23 million deaths. In this way this Chinese group is trying to counter it.
But before continuing, What is COPD? It is a lung disease that affects the flow of air in the lungs, causing problems with breathing. It is characterized by obstructing the airways, swelling and tearing the lung tissue. It is a long-term disease, so there is no cure, but proper treatment can reduce the impact of its symptoms.
The main causes of COPD are smoking and exposure to polluted environments such as dust, fumes or chemicals, as well as problems during fetal development or genetic conditions. Until now, treatment has focused on using inhaled medications to open the airways, reduce inflammation, and provide supportive oxygen to improve the patient’s quality of life.
Regenerative medicine
However, this new study led by Tongji University is very promising. These efforts are based on what is known as “regenerative medicine.” This area focuses on repair, Replacement or regeneration of damaged tissues or organs Through the use of stem cells (SC), progenitor cells (PC), biomaterials, genetic manipulation or growth factors.
Through preclinical studies tested on mice and monkeys, this group of scientists managed to isolate lung progenitor cells called P63+. Within regenerative medicine there is a clear distinction between stem cells and progenitor cells, which are a fundamental part of repairing diseased lung tissue.
This is important because progenitor cells (also called precursor cells) They have the ability to differentiate into other specialized cell types, Differentiation is the process by which a cell acquires unique characteristics associated with a particular function within a tissue or organ. Unlike CM, these cannot form tissue in any part of the body, they are limited to certain areas and functions.
The proposed isolation method ensures that it can be used with even the most severe COPD patients, as studies show that even in the later stages of the disease there are healthy cells that can be isolated and recovered to create personalized treatments. can be done. This process has the potential to repair the airways even at their deepest levels, such as the alveoli.
Unitary hope
Therefore, this research is one of the most positive for COPD patients. ,Regenerative medicine based on stem cells and progenitor cells may be the best, if not the only, hope for curing COPD.” said Zuo Wei, a scientist at Tongji University, during a conference of the European Respiratory Society.
Of the 17 patients who underwent the procedure, No one had any negative side effects, In fact, many of them managed to walk 30 meters further after treatment before tiring, a metric that seems small in terms of distance but huge in terms of therapy. Zuo Wei describes it this way:
“We found that P63+ progenitor cell transplantation not only improved the lung function of COPD patients, but also reduced their symptoms, such as shortness of breath, loss of exercise capacity, and persistent cough.”
Despite everything, there is still a long way to go. The authors mention that the first steps have been completed safely, but they are still limited, as it has only been tested in men so far. This places research in a position where its efficiency cannot be assured, although it is a first step towards a future where COPD can be combated. The team will soon begin a second phase with a larger and more diverse study group,
