Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cell-derived extracellular vesicles alleviate radiation induced pulmonary fibrosis

Abstract

Pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic, fatal lung disease affecting millions worldwide, urgently needs more effective treatments. This article comments on the study by Wang et al, which proposed that human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cell-derived exosomes alleviate rats radiation induced pulmonary fibrosis. The study demonstrated that these exosomes suppressed inflammation, extracellular matrix deposition, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition by inhibition of AKT signaling in radiation-exposed alveolar epithelial cells. Despite these observations, aspects of the study merit further discussion. Most importantly, further confirmation is needed to prove that the therapeutic effect is exerted through the AKT signaling pathway. Moreover, the definitions of both mesenchymal stem cell and exosomes require further refinement, more rigorous terms should be mesenchymal stromal cell and extracellular vesicles. It seems apparent that this therapy will develop into one of great clinical value.

Keywords: Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells; Exosomes; Extracellular vesicles; Pulmonary fibrosis; Inflammation

Core Tip: This commentary examines the study by Wang et al on the role of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cell-derived exosomes in alleviating radiation induced pulmonary fibrosis. However, some issues are worth discussing. First, regarding the definitions of mesenchymal stromal cells and exosomes, according to the latest standards, mesenchymal stromal cell should represent mesenchymal stromal cell, and the so-called exosomes should be extracellular vesicles. Secondly, there are some imprecise or incorrect parts in the text that need to be clarified, especially the evidence for the AKT signaling pathway may be insufficient. Thirdly, this article more systematically discusses the current progress of extracellular vesicles in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.