Magnetic guidance
A new study published in the journal Stem Cells Translational Medicine suggests a way to treat silicosis , an incurable lung disease that affects millions of people around the world. It develops as a result of long-term inhalation of air containing microparticles of free silicon dioxide, builders, masters of sandblasting suffer from it. The accumulation of silicon dioxide in the lungs leads to inflammation and scarring of the lung tissue, which, in turn, causes respiratory failure and may result in the death of the patient.
Currently, silicosis is incurable, and if the pathological process has begun, it cannot be reversed. Treatment is aimed at relieving symptoms and slowing the progression of the disease.
Among the most promising potential treatments are mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which can be programmed to transform into different types of cells depending on the conditions of the culture in which they are grown. If the MSCs turn into lung cells, they will replace the cells damaged by silicon dioxide and thus restore respiratory function.
However, in the case of silicosis, MSCs are more valuable as an anti-inflammatory agent. They soothe pneumonia caused by silicon dioxide and indirectly reduce scarring and loss of lung function.
Nevertheless, in clinical studies, MSCs demonstrate rather low effectiveness. The reasons for this remain unclear; one theory suggests that MSCs, once in the pulmonary capillaries, are removed from the lungs within 24 hours. This rapid clearance explains why the effects of MSCs are often short-lived or insufficient to improve the condition of the damaged lung.
The aim of the new study by an international group of scientists was to find a way to keep MSCs in the lungs long enough for them to realize their therapeutic potential. In particular, the researchers wanted to find out whether magnetic guidance, which has already shown effectiveness in other types of target tissues, could improve the condition of mouse models of silicosis treated with MSCs.
To do this, the MSCs collected from mice were magnetized using superparamagnetic nanoparticles consisting of a core of iron oxide coated with citrate ions. These nanoparticles have already been studied and have low toxicity to recipient cells and ease of magnetization. MSCs spontaneously absorb such particles.
In the experiment, 24 mice were divided into two groups: control (6 individuals) and experimental (18 individuals). In the mice of the experimental group, silicosis was caused. After 15 days, mice with silicosis were randomized into three equal groups. One of these groups received intravenous saline, the second group was treated with magnetized MSCs, the third group was also treated with magnetized MSCs, plus two magnets were attached to each animal's chest after injection with a patch, which were not removed for 48 hours.
After removing the magnets, all the animals were examined. It was found that mice wearing magnets had significantly more magnetized MSCs in their lungs.
At the second stage of the study, the group analyzed the effects of magnetic guidance in comparison with treatment with conventional MSCs. After seven days, mice from the group using magnetized MSCs and magnets showed a significant decrease in static elasticity of the lungs, resistive pressure and granulomatous lesion areas – all signs of lung improvement, while mice in other groups did not.
This means that magnetic guidance can become a promising method of enhancing the positive effect of MSCS-based cell therapy for silicosis and other chronic lung diseases.
Article by L.H.A.Silva et al. Magnetic targeting increases mesenchymal stromal cell retention in lungs and enhances beneficial effects on pulmonary damage in experimental silicosis is published in the journal Stem Cells Translational Medicine.
Aminat Adzhieva, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru Based on EurekAlert: Magnetic guidance improves stem cells' ability to treat occupational lung disease.