ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the application of placenta-derived stem cells in the treatment of inflammatory and fibrotic disorders across different organ systems. The development of biologics such as cytokine receptor antagonists has heralded improved therapeutic options for acute inflammatory conditions, but the lack of safe and effective therapies for the chronic fibrotic disorders largely remains. Chronic inflammatory and fibrotic disorders are often poorly and inadequately managed by nonspecific anti-inflammatory therapies such as corticosteroids. Treated animals showed normalized body weight, reduced septa crest density, and decreased levels of proinflammatory and profibrotic cytokines, but no improvement in the hyperoxia-induced alterations of lung function and structure. Treatment with both cell mass and cells reduced luminal obliteration, improved the luminal epithelial integrity, and decreased inflammatory cell infiltration in the allografts. Placenta-derived cells and related derivatives, such as conditioned media generated from the in vitro culture of cells, have been experimentally applied to determine their effect on specific lung injuries induced in animal models.
