From Stem Cell Biology to The Treatment of Lung Diseases

BACKGROUND

The exposure of lung to noxious agents or gasses leads to injury, which further enhances repair mechanisms by promoting the proliferation and differentiation of lung stem cells. These cells could help preserve the anatomical structure and the function of the organ. Unfortunately in many lung diseases, 'this scenario' is changed and injury progresses despite repair mechanisms or conventional treatment.

OBJECTIVE

This review summarizes the research on lung stem cells by giving an overview of the biology, function, niches and signaling that play role in lung stem cells and further of the regeneration of the lung. It also highlights the most common lung pathologies thought to be a result of a defective remodeling and overviews the clinical trials having results or publications, which are performed on the field.

CONCLUSION

Though not yet approved for clinical usage, the application of stem cell therapies shown to be safe and with minimal adverse effects could be an alternative treatment to many lung diseases giving a hope for the future of severely ill patients refractory to the current therapies.

Dual Effect of Glucocorticoid-Induced Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Receptor Ligand Carrying Mesenchymal Stromal Cells on Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Preliminary in vitro Study

BACKGROUND AIMS

TNFR family member glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor-related receptor (GITR/TNFRSF18) activation by its ligand glucocorticoid-induced TNF-related receptor ligand (GITRL) have important roles in proliferation, death and differentiation of cells. Some types of small cell lung cancers (SCLCs) express GITR. Because mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) may target tumor cells, we aimed to investigate the effect of MSCs carrying GITRL overexpressing plasmid on the proliferation and viability of a GITR⁺ SCLC cell line (SCLC-21H) compared with a GITR^- SCLC cell line (NCI-H82).

METHODS

Electroporation was used to transfer pGITRL (GITRL gene carrying plasmid) or pCR3 (mock plasmid) into MSCs. Flow cytometry and semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to characterize the transfected MSCs. Following SCLC-21H or NCI-H82 cell lines were co-cultured with pGITRL-MSCs.

RESULTS

Proliferation of NCI-H82 was increased in all types of co-cultures while SCLC-21H cells did not. GITRL expressing MSCs were able to induce cell death of SCLC-21H through the upregulation of SIVA1 apoptosis inducing factor.

CONCLUSIONS

The influence of MSCs on SCLC cells can vary according to the cancer cell subtypes as obtained in SCLC-21H and NCI-H82 and enabling GITR-GITRL interaction can induce cell death of SCLC cell lines.