Amniotic derived cell therapy

Amniotic derived cell therapy improving outcome in lung transplantation – preparations for clinical use

The aim of the project is to develop a novel cell-based therapy using amniotic derived cell therapy for acute lung injury (ALI) both to render lungs suitable for transplantation but also to develop a cell-based therapy for ALI de novo.

Time period: 01/2022 – 12/2023

Lead: Sandra Lindstedt, Skåne University Hospital

Involved partners: Amniotics AB and Lund University

Lung transplantation remains a vital tool in the arsenal of treatments against end-stage lung disease, yet the full clinical application of this method remains hindered by a scarcity of organs. In addition, only approximately 20% of donated lungs are being utilized. Most potential donor lungs are considered unsuitable due to acute lung injury (ALI) in its most severe forms acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). There is a lack of options for treating ALI lungs to render them suitable for transplantation.

Cell therapy, such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), are currently being intensively investigated for cell therapies including regenerative and immune-modulatory approaches. MSCs due to their multipotent nature and their ability to secrete multiple paracrine factors such as growth factors, factors regulating endothelial and epithelial permeability, and anti-inflammatory cytokines can potentially treat the major abnormalities that underlie ALI, including impaired alveolar fluid clearance, altered lung endothelial permeability, and dysregulated inflammation. Given that intravenous infusion of MSCs results in a significant trapping in the lung, MSC therapy could directly mitigate inflammation, protect alveolar epithelial cells, and reverse lung dysfunction by normalizing the pulmonary microenvironment
and repairing lung injury.

The overall purpose of this research project is to build a platform to develop and test cell therapies using amniotic fluid-derived mesenchymal stromal (stem) cells. In this project we will demonstrate proof of concept in restoration of damaged discarded donor lungs with the objectives of expanding the donor lung pool for transplantation. The aim of this project is to develop a novel cell-based therapy using amniotic derived cell therapy for ALI both to render lungs suitable for transplantation but also to develop a cell-based therapy for ALI de novo.