Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Lung Degeneration

The invention discloses means of treating lung degenerative diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (CODP) using umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells such as JadiCells alone, and/or using said cells under conditions that are activated in order to endow enhanced regenerative activity. In one embodiment said activation of said mesenchymal stem cells is performed through stimulation with a toll like receptor agonist at a concentration and duration sufficient to induce a >50% increase in keratinocyte growth factor expression from said stem cells. In another embodiment the invention provides the use of JadiCells as a means of producing exosomes, wherein said exosomes possess therapeutic properties capable of reducing inflammation, fibrosis and degeneration associated with COPD, as well as stimulation of regenerative activity. In some JadiCells are activated by a treatment with Activated Protein C.

Examples
BALB/c mice were administered with 1 million of either bone marrow or adipose MSC or with JadiCells Intravenously at the same time as intraperitoneal injection of elastase at the indicated concentrations. After a period of 3 days animals were sacrificed and concentration of neutrophils per viewing field was assessed. Animals receiving JadiCells had higher levels of MerTK and lower levels of TLR4.