Stem cell treatment reduces T cell apoptosis in COPD patients with chronic bronchitis but not with emphysema.

Abstract

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a prevalent and preventable condition. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy is being explored to aid in the regeneration of lung cells and airway structure, aiming to restore lung function. Aim: To examine varied responses of MSCs when cultured with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from different COPD phenotypes, patients were grouped into ACOS, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis categories. Methods: PBMCs from these groups and controls were co-cultured with MSCs derived from dental follicles, revealing differing rates of apoptosis among COPD phenotypes compared to controls. Results: While the chronic bronchitis group exhibited the least lymphocyte viability (p<0.01), introducing MSCs notably enhanced viability across all phenotypes except emphysema, with the chronic bronchitis group showing the most improvement (p<0.05). Conclusion: Stem cell therapy might reduce peripheral lymphocyte apoptosis in COPD, with varying responses based on phenotype, necessitating further research to understand mechanisms and optimize tailored therapies for each COPD subtype.