Asthma and stem cell therapy.

Abstract

The global incidence of asthma, a leading respiratory disorder affecting more than 235 million people, has dramatically increased in recent years. Characterized by chronic airway inflammation and an imbalanced response to airborne irritants, this chronic condition is associated with elevated levels of inflammatory factors and symptoms such as dyspnea, cough, wheezing, and chest tightness. Conventional asthma therapies, such as corticosteroids, long-acting β-agonists, and anti-inflammatory agents, often evoke diverse adverse reactions and fail to reduce symptoms and hospitalization rates over the long term effectively. These limitations have prompted researchers to explore innovative therapeutic strategies, including stem cell-related interventions, offering hope to those afflicted with this incurable disease. In this review, we describe the characteristics of stem cells and critically assess the potential and challenges of stem cell-based therapies to improve disease management and treatment outcomes for asthma and other diseases.