Multipotent Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for Pulmonary Fibrosis?

Abstract

With the combination of ideologic beliefs and the will to survive, fraught patients and determined clinicians seek alternative therapies for treatment of terminal conditions, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Unfortunately, the need for treatment has supported the growth of unapproved stem cell therapy over the years spanning across many countries. The reality, however, is that the science behind this therapy is lagging. While there have been promising results from phase I trials, there remain multiple reasons that "stem cells" are not ready for clinical application, starting from a gap in understanding at the bench research level, all the way to optimal clinical application in order to provide effective therapy.

Keywords: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; Stem cells; Therapies.