# Immune checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis: current advances and the putative role of mesenchymal stem cell therapy

**Authors:** Zekang Li, Xiao Zheng, Han Xia, Long Lu, Xiaodong Chen, Yongjing Chen, Jun Wu, Yufang Shi, Chen Wu

PMC · DOI: 10.1038/s41419-026-08440-7 · Cell Death & Disease · 2026-02-03

## TL;DR

This paper discusses how immune therapy can cause lung inflammation and explores the potential of stem cells to treat it.

## Contribution

The paper proposes mesenchymal stem cells as a novel therapeutic approach for immune checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis.

## Key findings

- Immune checkpoint inhibitors can cause severe lung inflammation called pneumonitis.
- Current treatments for pneumonitis are limited, but mesenchymal stem cells may offer a new solution.
- Further research is needed to confirm the safety and effectiveness of mesenchymal stem cell therapy.

## Abstract

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are widely used in clinical oncology owing to their effectiveness against various tumors. However, by enhancing their immune responses, these inhibitors can trigger immune-related adverse events (irAEs) affecting various organ systems. Notably, pulmonary complications, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis (ICIP), have emerged as one of the leading causes of treatment-related mortality in patients receiving ICIs. Given the limitations of current ICIP treatments, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) represent a promising therapeutic strategy owing to their immunomodulatory properties and ability to promote tissue repair. This article reviews recent advances in ICIP and proposes the potential applications of MSC therapy, emphasizing the need for further research into its efficacy and safety to improve ICIP management.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** pneumonitis (MONDO:0043905)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** MYC (MYC proto-oncogene, bHLH transcription factor) [NCBI Gene 4609] {aka MRTL, MYCC, bHLHe39, c-Myc}, IL6 (interleukin 6) [NCBI Gene 3569] {aka BSF-2, BSF2, CDF, HGF, HSF, IFN-beta-2}, IL10 (interleukin 10) [NCBI Gene 3586] {aka CSIF, GVHDS, IL-10, IL10A, TGIF}, EPHB4 (EPH receptor B4) [NCBI Gene 2050] {aka CMAVM2, HFASD, HTK, LMPHM7, MYK1, TYRO11}, Il6 (interleukin 6) [NCBI Gene 16193] {aka Il-6}, CRP (C-reactive protein) [NCBI Gene 1401] {aka PTX1}, OSTC (oligosaccharyltransferase complex non-catalytic subunit) [NCBI Gene 58505] {aka DC2}, TGFB1 (transforming growth factor beta 1) [NCBI Gene 7040] {aka CAEND1, CED, DPD1, IBDIMDE, LAP, TGF-beta1}, Mir486 (microRNA 486) [NCBI Gene 723876] {aka Mirn486, mir-486a, mmu-mir-486, mmu-mir-486a}, IL1B (interleukin 1 beta) [NCBI Gene 3553] {aka IL-1, IL1-BETA, IL1F2, IL1beta}, CHRNG (cholinergic receptor nicotinic gamma subunit) [NCBI Gene 1146] {aka ACHRG}, IL17A (interleukin 17A) [NCBI Gene 3605] {aka CTLA-8, CTLA8, IL-17, IL-17A, IL17, ILA17}, Cd274 (CD274 antigen) [NCBI Gene 60533] {aka A530045L16Rik, B7h1, Pdcd1l1, Pdcd1lg1, Pdl1}, TIGIT (T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains) [NCBI Gene 201633] {aka VSIG9, VSTM3, WUCAM}, FAS (Fas cell surface death receptor) [NCBI Gene 355] {aka ALPS1A, APO-1, APT1, CD95, FAS1, FASTM}, TNFAIP6 (TNF alpha induced protein 6) [NCBI Gene 7130] {aka TSG-6, TSG6}, CTLA4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4) [NCBI Gene 1493] {aka ALPS5, CD, CD152, CELIAC3, CTLA-4, GRD4}, EFNB1 (ephrin B1) [NCBI Gene 1947] {aka CFND, CFNS, EFB1, EFL3, EPLG2, Elk-L}, GNAL (G protein subunit alpha L) [NCBI Gene 2774] {aka DYT25, HG1O}, FASLG (Fas ligand) [NCBI Gene 356] {aka ALPS1B, APT1LG1, APTL, CD178, CD95-L, CD95L}, CD274 (CD274 molecule) [NCBI Gene 29126] {aka ADMIO5, B7-H, B7H1, PD-L1, PDCD1L1, PDCD1LG1}, TNFSF12 (TNF superfamily member 12) [NCBI Gene 8742] {aka APO3L, DR3LG, TNF12, TNLG4A, TWEAK}, IL23A (interleukin 23 subunit alpha) [NCBI Gene 51561] {aka IL-23, IL-23A, IL23P19, P19, SGRF}, TNF (tumor necrosis factor) [NCBI Gene 7124] {aka DIF, IMD127, TNF-alpha, TNFA, TNFSF2, TNLG1F}, FGF2 (fibroblast growth factor 2) [NCBI Gene 2247] {aka BFGF, FGF-2, FGFB, HBGF-2}, CXCL8 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8) [NCBI Gene 3576] {aka GCP-1, GCP1, IL8, LECT, LUCT, LYNAP}, EPHB2 (EPH receptor B2) [NCBI Gene 2048] {aka BDPLT22, CAPB, DRT, EK5, EPHT3, ERK}, CD74 (CD74 molecule) [NCBI Gene 972] {aka CLIP, DHLAG, HLADG, II, Ia-GAMMA, p33}, HGF (hepatocyte growth factor) [NCBI Gene 3082] {aka DFNB39, F-TCF, HGFB, HPTA, SF}, IL12B (interleukin 12B) [NCBI Gene 3593] {aka CLMF, CLMF2, IL-12B, IMD28, IMD29, NKSF}, F3 (coagulation factor III, tissue factor) [NCBI Gene 2152] {aka CD142, TF, TFA}, IDO1 (indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1) [NCBI Gene 3620] {aka IDO, IDO-1, INDO}, VEGFA (vascular endothelial growth factor A) [NCBI Gene 7422] {aka L-VEGF, MVCD1, VEGF, VPF}, Akt1 (Akt serine/threonine kinase 1) [NCBI Gene 11651] {aka Akt, LTR-akt, PKB, PKB/Akt, PKBalpha, Rac}, CD4 (CD4 molecule) [NCBI Gene 920] {aka CD4mut, IMD79, Leu-3, OKT4D, T4}, CXCR4 (C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4) [NCBI Gene 7852] {aka CD184, D2S201E, FB22, HM89, HSY3RR, LCR1}, HLA-G (major histocompatibility complex, class I, G) [NCBI Gene 3135] {aka MHC-G}, Smad2 (SMAD family member 2) [NCBI Gene 17126] {aka 7120426M23Rik, Madh2, Madr2, Smad-2, mMad2}, EFNB2 (ephrin B2) [NCBI Gene 1948] {aka EPLG5, HTKL, Htk-L, LERK5, ephrin-B2}, IFNG (interferon gamma) [NCBI Gene 3458] {aka IFG, IFI, IMD69}, FGF7 (fibroblast growth factor 7) [NCBI Gene 2252] {aka HBGF-7, KGF}, CD8A (CD8 subunit alpha) [NCBI Gene 925] {aka CD8, CD8alpha, IMD116, Leu2, p32}, ITM2B (integral membrane protein 2B) [NCBI Gene 9445] {aka ABRI, BRI, BRI2, BRICD2B, E25B, E3-16}, FOS (Fos proto-oncogene, AP-1 transcription factor subunit) [NCBI Gene 2353] {aka AP-1, C-FOS, p55}, CXCL13 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 13) [NCBI Gene 10563] {aka ANGIE, ANGIE2, BCA-1, BCA1, BLC, BLR1L}, NFKB1 (nuclear factor kappa B subunit 1) [NCBI Gene 4790] {aka CVID12, EBP-1, KBF1, NF-kB, NF-kB1, NF-kappa-B1}
- **Diseases:** urothelial carcinoma (MESH:D014523), fibrosis (MESH:D005355), respiratory failure (MESH:D012131), Cancer (MESH:D009369), AIP (MESH:D000080203), embolism (MESH:D004617), malignant melanoma (MESH:D008545), lung cancer (MESH:D008175), hypoxic (MESH:D002534), tumorigenic (MESH:D002471), RA rheumatoid arthritis (MESH:D001172), IBD (MESH:D015212), toxicities (MESH:D064420), hypophysitis (MESH:D000072659), declines in pulmonary function (OMIM:608852), tissue damage (MESH:D017695), infection (MESH:D007239), graft-versus-host disease (MESH:D006086), Crohn's disease (MESH:D003424), IPF (MESH:D054990), autoimmune reactions (MESH:D001327), biliary tract cancer (MESH:D001661), ischemic stroke (MESH:D002544), dyspnea (MESH:D004417), rheumatoid factor (MESH:D001171), NSCLC (MESH:D002289), pulmonary nodules (MESH:D055613), pulmonary fibrosis (MESH:D011658), RILI (MESH:D055370), ILD (MESH:D017563), liver injury (MESH:D017093), lymphocytosis (MESH:D008218), colitis (MESH:D003092), head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (MESH:D000077195), thyroid dysfunction (MESH:D013959), thrombosis (MESH:D013927), renal cell carcinoma (MESH:D002292), myocardial infarction (MESH:D009203), fever (MESH:D005334), HP (MESH:D000542), vascular obstruction (MESH:D057772), ARDS (MESH:D012128), cerebral ischemic injury (MESH:D017202), Gastric (MESH:D013272), skin toxicities (MESH:D012871), diverticular disease (MESH:D000076385), ICIP (MESH:D011014), chronic inflammation (MESH:D007249), acute lung injury (MESH:D055371), DAD (MESH:D000070625), lymphadenopathy (MESH:D008206), breast cancer (MESH:D001943), lung damage (MESH:D008171), cardiac conditions (MESH:D006331), metastasis (MESH:D009362), COVID-19 (MESH:D000086382), OP (MESH:D000092124), AD (MESH:D000544), diabetes (MESH:D003920), pulmonary opacities (MESH:D003318)
- **Chemicals:** ICIP (-), durvalumab (MESH:C000613593), dexamethasone (MESH:D003907), lipids (MESH:D008055), methylprednisolone (MESH:D008775), cyclophosphamide (MESH:D003520), mycophenolate mofetil (MESH:D009173), pembrolizumab (MESH:C582435), nivolumab (MESH:D000077594), tryptophan (MESH:D014364), PLGA (MESH:D000077182), platinum (MESH:D010984), zimberelimab (MESH:C000719848), atezolizumab (MESH:C000594389), prednisone (MESH:D011241), infliximab (MESH:D000069285), Tocilizumab (MESH:C502936), steroid (MESH:D013256), ROS (MESH:D017382)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090]

## Full text

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## Figures

3 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12877017/full.md

## References

10 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12877017/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12877017