The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a multifaceted lung disorder in which no specific therapeutic intervention is able to effectively improve clinical outcomes. Despite an improved understanding of molecular mechanisms and advances in supportive care strategies, ARDS remains associated with high mortality, and survivors usually face long-term morbidity. In recent years, preclinical studies have provided mounting evidence of the potential of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapies in lung diseases and critical illnesses. In several models of ARDS, MSCs have been demonstrated to induce anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects, improve epithelial and endothelial cell recovery, and enhance microbial and alveolar fluid clearance, thus resulting in improved lung and distal organ function and survival. Early-stage clinical trials have also demonstrated the safety of MSC administration in patients with ARDS, but further, large-scale investigations are required to assess the safety and efficacy profile of these therapies. In this review, we summarize the main mechanisms whereby MSCs have been shown to exert therapeutic effects in experimental ARDS. We also highlight questions that need to be further elucidated and barriers that must be overcome in order to efficiently translate MSC research into clinical practice.

中文翻译：

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对间充质干细胞在急性呼吸窘迫综合征中的治疗益处的当前了解。

急性呼吸窘迫综合征（ARDS）是一种多方面的肺部疾病，其中没有任何特定的治疗干预措施能够有效改善临床结果。尽管人们对分子机制有了更深入的了解，并且在支持治疗策略方面取得了进步，但ARDS仍与高死亡率相关，而且幸存者通常面临长期发病。近年来，临床前研究已经提供了越来越多的证据，证明基于间充质干细胞（MSC）的疗法在肺部疾病和重大疾病中的潜力。在几种ARDS模型中，MSC已被证明具有抗炎和抗凋亡作用，改善上皮和内皮细胞的恢复，并增强微生物和肺泡液的清除率，从而改善了肺和远端器官的功能和存活率。早期临床试验还证明了ARDS患者使用MSC的安全性，但还需要进行大规模研究以评估这些疗法的安全性和有效性。在这篇综述中，我们总结了MSC已显示出在实验性ARDS中发挥治疗作用的主要机制。为了有效地将MSC研究转化为临床实践，我们还强调了需要进一步阐明的问题和必须克服的障碍。