Description
Acute lung injury (ALI) or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a severe syndrome affecting more than 200,000 patients annually in the U.S. New studies are needed to understand the biological and clinical mechanisms that impair alveolar epithelial function. Also, innovative therapies are needed for the resolution of pulmonary edema in ARDS. We and other investigators have reported that bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are effective in preclinical models of ALI due to their ability to secrete several paracrine factors that can regulate lung endothelial and epithelial permeability, including growth factors, anti-inflammatory cytokines, and antimicrobial peptides. So in this study we will test the therapeutic value of human MSCs in an in vitro model of acute lung injury induced by pro-inflammatory cytokines.