The Application of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy in Treating Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Scoping Review

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a medical condition that affects the lungs and causes scarring due to the deposition of excess fibrotic tissue. This is often preceded by various causes and can lead to long-term health consequences. The treatment of PF using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to correct lung damage and decrease inflammation is a current focus of research. MSCs are beneficial in inhibiting the immune response and inducing more efficient repair processes, therefore having the potential to be useful in various settings. This review aims to identify the current utilization of MSCs in treating PF in adults. A systematic search was conducted according to the Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewers Manual using Ovid Medline, Embase, and Web of Science to identify studies. Following PRISMA guidelines, eligible peer-reviewed studies that used MSCs to treat adults with PF were identified. The initial search produced 1,836 articles after removing duplicates. Twenty-nine articles met the inclusion criteria. A final analysis of the articles further narrowed the number to eight articles that met all criteria and were relevant to the scoping review's objective. Four studies utilized bone marrow-derived MSCs, two utilized umbilical-derived MSCs, one utilized placenta-derived MSCs, and one utilized adipose-derived MSCs. Of these studies, five administered treatments via an intravenous infusion, two used an endobronchial infusion, and the last utilized an intratracheal approach. The use of MSCs in the treatment of PF in adults was found to be safe with the most common adverse effect reported being fever and chills which resolved a few hours after administration. Although the research regarding MSC use in the treatment of idiopathic PF is relatively new, our results summarize the current sources, route of administration, and current adverse effects. We have shown that future studies with larger sample sizes should be performed to determine long-term outcomes and overall efficacy before clinical practice guidelines become implemented.