Employees of the Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Medical Scientific and Educational Center of Moscow State University M.V. Lomonosov found a way to restore the tissues of various organs damaged as a result of fibrosis. It is suitable for the prevention and treatment of lung complications after COVID-19. This was reported in the journal Cells.
Overgrowth, hardening of the connective tissue of organs and the appearance of scars (fibrosis) are a frequent and very dangerous complication in various diseases. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, pulmonary fibrosis has become a particularly urgent problem. Coronavirus-induced changes can cause lung disruption. In many cases, fibrotic changes are considered irreversible and often lead to the progression of chronic pulmonary diseases.
To solve this problem, MSU scientists resorted to methods of regenerative medicine - to treatment with components of special stem cells (mesenchymal stromal cells, or MSCs). The results of the experiments showed that the extracellular vesicles secreted by these cells can destroy pathology and prevent the appearance of scars.
“There is virtually no cure for lung fibrosis. With the advent of COVID-19, the problem worsened - even the asymptomatic course of the disease often leads to severe respiratory failure. In our study, we showed that certain components of MSCs can prevent the appearance of scars and even cause reversal changes, ”Anastasia Efimenko, head of the laboratory of tissue repair and regeneration at the Institute of Regenerative Medicine, said in an interview with RT.
The extracellular vesicles with therapeutic effect have been studied so far as part of a fundamental study. According to Anastasia Efimenko, the method is currently being tested on animals, and then clinical trials await it. In case of successful completion of these stages, it will be possible to start treatment - take MSCs from the patients themselves or from donors, and then isolate the components necessary for treatment.
“Our research is not only aimed at the prevention and treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. The method of tissue restoration using secretion of MSCs will find application in other areas, including in the treatment of male infertility. We will try to complete preclinical studies within a year, ”Anastasia Efimenko shared her plans with RT.