“一喷一吸”就能治疗肺纤维化？

Core Insights - The article discusses the development of a novel treatment strategy for pulmonary fibrosis called "exosome nebulization therapy," which has been researched by a collaborative team from Tsinghua University and other institutions [1][5][7] Group 1: Health Issues Related to Pulmonary Fibrosis - Pulmonary fibrosis is characterized by the gradual scarring of lung tissue, leading to severe breathing difficulties and is often referred to as "the cancer that does not die" due to its chronic and progressive nature [2][3] - The disease can be classified into two main types: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, which has an unknown cause and poor prognosis, and secondary pulmonary fibrosis, which has identifiable triggers such as infections or autoimmune diseases [2][3] Group 2: Current Treatment Limitations - Current treatments for pulmonary fibrosis, such as pirfenidone and nintedanib, can only stabilize the condition and delay progression but cannot reverse fibrosis or improve survival rates [5][7] - Lung transplantation remains the only curative option, but its application is limited by donor shortages and postoperative complications [5][7] Group 3: Exosome Nebulization Therapy - Exosome nebulization therapy utilizes exosomes derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells, which contain various proteins and RNAs that play crucial roles in cellular communication and immune response [5][6] - The therapy involves nebulizing these exosomes into fine particles for inhalation, allowing for targeted delivery to lung lesions, enhancing treatment precision compared to traditional stem cell therapies [6][7] - Animal studies have shown that this therapy significantly improves pulmonary fibrosis progression, with survival rates in treated mice increasing from 20% to 80% [6][7] Group 4: Clinical Trials and Future Directions - Initial clinical trials involving 24 patients demonstrated good safety and significant improvements in lung function and respiratory health for those receiving combined treatment with exosome nebulization and standard medication [7][8] - Despite the promising results, further large-scale Phase II and III clinical trials are necessary to fully validate the efficacy of exosome therapy [8] - Regulatory challenges exist in approving exosome therapy as a commercial drug due to its complex composition, necessitating the development of a more flexible evaluation system for its application [8]