At Regenesis we offer patients suffering from COPD a General Vascular Therapy (GVT) that includes infused and nebulized autologous stem cells to address disease processes that progressively compromise lung tissue, airway function, and patient health. This stem cell GVT has the potential to work through several mechanisms of action to repair and regenerate lung tissue, reduce inflammation, protect existing healthy cells, stimulate the function of stem cells resident with the lungs, reduce oxidative stress and balance protease/antiprotease activity:
1. Tissue Repair and Regeneration: Stem cells infused and nebulized via our GVT have the potential to differentiate into lung-specific cells, including type I and II alveolar epithelial cells, to replace damaged or dead cells in the lungs. As a result, they can promote regeneration of lung structures and improve the structural integrity of airways.
2. Paracrine effects: Stem cells delivered via our GVT secrete various factors, including cytokines/chemokines and growth factors. These factors can aid in tissue repair processes by promoting the proliferation of lung cells and facilitating self-repair of lung tissue.
3. Immunomodulation and Anti-inflammatory Effects: Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs), that comprise a share of total autologous stem cells provided to patients via our GVT, have immunomodulatory properties that can reduce inflammation in the lungs. They also have the potential to secrete anti-inflammatory mediators and modulate a patient’s immune response to create a favorable environment for tissue healing.
4. Protection of Existing Cells: Stem cells delivered via our GVT have the potential to inhibit apoptosis of alveolar epithelial cells by interfering with apoptotic gene expression. Normally, apoptosis is a highly regulated and controlled process of cell death that is part of normal cell functioning. Apoptosis is a fundamental biological process that helps maintain cellular homeostasis and overall organism health by eliminating cells in a controlled manner.
5. Stimulation of Endogenous Repair: Stem cells provided via our GVT may increase the activity and regenerative potential of endogenous tissue-resident stem cells in the lungs.
6. Improvement of lung function: Studies have shown that to some extent, stem cell therapy can improve pulmonary function to include decreasing airflow limitations and restoring lung function.
7. Reduction of Oxidative Stress: Stem cells may help combat the oxidative stress experienced by individuals with COPD.
8. Balancing Protease/Antiprotease Activity: Stem cells provided via our GVT may help restore the balance between proteases and antiproteases. This balance is often disrupted in COPD resulting in several significant negative effects on lung function and overall patient health:
Destruction of lung tissue: An imbalance with excessive protease activity, particularly elastases, can result in the break down elastin in the lung parenchyma. This break down results in destruction of alveolar walls, leading to emphysema, a key component of COPD characterized by loss of lung elasticity and enlarged airspaces.
Impairment of gas exchange: The destruction of alveolar tissue reduces the surface area available for gas exchange, impairing oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide removal.
Airway narrowing: Excessive protease activity can also result in airway remodeling with airway wall thickening and fibrosis. This narrows the airways, increasing airflow resistance and contributing to the obstructive component of COPD.
Mucus hypersecretion: Protease can also stimulate mucus hypersecretion by stimulating mucus-producing cells. Excessive mucus can further obstruct airways and impair mucociliary clearance.
Inflammation: A protease-antiprotease imbalance can perpetuate chronic inflammation in the lungs. This ongoing inflammation can contribute to further tissue damage and disease progression.
The combined effects of tissue destruction, airway narrowing, and mucus hypersecretion lead to decreased lung function as measured by spirometry (e.g., reduced FEV1 and FEV1/FVC ratio). Additionally, damage to the airway epithelium and impaired mucociliary clearance make COPD patients more susceptible to respiratory infections.
Reflective of the potential benefits of stem cell therapy for COPD patients as outlined above, Regenesis has seen positive clinical outcomes for its COPD patients. These outcomes have ranged from marked improvements in patient lung function to reduced patient reliance on portable oxygen generators with increase quality of life and Vigor.
