Harnessing CD146-positive mesenchymal stromal cells for precision therapy in acute respiratory distress syndrome
World Journal of Stem Cells, vol.18, no.1, pp.1-7, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 18 Issue: 1
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.4252/wjsc.v18.i1.114825
- Journal Name: World Journal of Stem Cells
- Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, EMBASE
- Page Numbers: pp.1-7
- Keywords: Acute respiratory distress syndrome, CD146, Endothelial barrier repair, Extracellular vesicles, Mesenchymal stromal cells, Nuclear factor kappa B/cyclooxygenase-2 signaling pathway, Precision medicine
- Eskisehir Osmangazi University Affiliated: No
Abstract
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening condition that is characterized by high mortality rates and limited therapeutic options. Notably, Zhang et al demonstrated that CD146+ mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) exhibited greater therapeutic efficacy than CD146- MSCs. These cells enhance epithelial repair through nuclear factor kappa B/cyclooxygenase-2-associated paracrine signaling and secretion of pro-angiogenic factors. We concur that MSCs hold significant promise for ARDS treatment; however, the heterogeneity of cell products is a translational barrier. Phenotype-aware strategies, such as CD146 enrichment, standardized potency assays, and extracellular vesicle profiling, are essential for improving the consistency of these studies. Further-more, advanced preclinical models, such as lung-on-a-chip systems, may provide more predictive insights into the therapeutic mechanisms. This article underscores the importance of CD146+ MSCs in ARDS, emphasizes the need for precision in defining cell products, and discusses how integrating subset selection into translational pipelines could enhance the clinical impact of MSC-based therapies.