Effects of Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in Lung Diseases: Current Status and Future Perspectives

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) as a kind of pluripotent adult stem cell have shown great therapeutic potential in relation to many diseases in anti-inflammation and regeneration. The results of preclinical experiments and clinical trials have demonstrated that MSC-derived secretome possesses immunoregulatory and reparative abilities and that this secretome is capable of modulating innate and adaptive immunity and reprograming the metabolism of recipient cells via paracrine mechanisms. It has been recognized that MSC-derived secretome, including soluble proteins (cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, proteases), extracellular vesicles (EVs) and organelles, plays a key role in tissue repair and regeneration in bronchopulmonary dysplasia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), pulmonary arterial hypertension, and silicosis. This review summarizes the known functions of MSC-EV modulation in lung diseases, coupled with the future challenges of MSC-EVs as a new pharmaceutical agent. The identification of underlying mechanisms for MSC-EV might provide a new direction for MSC-centered treatment in lung diseases.