Assessing the Therapeutic Potential of Bone Marrow-Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in Cell Culture and Pre-Clinical Models of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a severe lung disease in which scar tissue (fibrosis) gradually builds up, making breathing difficult. Current medicines only slow the disease and cannot repair the damaged lung. This thesis investigated whether tiny particles released by stem cells, called extracellular vesicles (EVs), could reduce scarring. EVs lowered fibrosis in laboratory-grown skin and lung cells and improved lung health in younger adult mice with established injury. However, they were less effective in cells from IPF patients and in older mice. These findings suggest EV-based treatments may work best in milder or earlier disease stages of lung fibrosis.