Acute Lung Injury Induced by Hyperbaric Oxygen or Other External Factors, with a Focus on Exosomes

TL;DR

This paper reviews how hyperbaric oxygen and other factors cause lung injury and explores the potential of exosomes from stem cells to treat this condition in mice.

Contribution

The study highlights the therapeutic potential of exosomes in treating acute lung injury and outlines challenges for clinical translation.

Findings

Exosome preparations significantly improve radiographic and histological outcomes in murine models of ALI.

Exosomes reduce vascular permeability and attenuate inflammation in ALI.

Exosome-based therapies show promise but face challenges before clinical application.

Abstract

Acute lung injury (ALI) is in part precipitated by hyperbaric oxygen or other mechanical insults. It constitutes the fundamental pathological process underlying acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The manifestation of the condition is characterized by an uncontrolled inflammatory response and alveolar edema, consequent to the disruption of the alveolar–capillary barrier. This phenomenon is associated with elevated morbidity and mortality rates. The current therapeutic interventions for ALI are not well researched or articulated. However, recent studies have indicated that stem cells may possess therapeutic potential in the context of ALI. The present study demonstrates that these exosome preparations have the capacity to significantly ameliorate radiographic findings, histological parameters, and vascular permeability in murine models of ALI. Concurrently, they attenuate the inflammatory response to a certain extent. The present review commences with an examination of the pathogenic mechanisms and manifestations of pulmonary injury induced by hyperbaric oxygen or other external factors. The subsequent sections of the text provide detailed accounts of the latest advances in exosome-based therapies for mitigating such injury, including their mechanisms of action and future translational prospects. While exosome-based treatments have demonstrated considerable advancement in preclinical research, numerous challenges must be surmounted before their widespread implementation in clinical settings can be realized, underscoring the necessity for sustained research in this domain.

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