Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stromal Cells as a Global Pediatric Prospective Approach in the Treatment of Respiratory Failure Associated with Surfactant Protein C Dysfunction

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been proposed as a new therapeutic strategy to treat congenital and acquired respiratory system diseases. We describe a case report of an 18-month-old male patient with progressive chronic respiratory failure, associated with mutations of the surfactant protein C gene (SFTPC) due to c.289G > T variant p.Gly97Ser (rs927644577) and c.176A > G variant (p.His59Arg), submitted to repeated intravenous infusions of allogeneic bone marrow (BM) MSCs. The clinical condition of the patient was monitored. Immunologic studies before and during MSC treatment were performed. No adverse events related to the MSC infusions were recorded. Throughout the MSC treatment period, the patient showed a growth recovery. Starting the second infusion, the patient experienced an improvement in his respiratory condition, with progressive adaptation to mechanical ventilation. After the third infusion, five hours/die of spontaneous breathing was shown, and after infusion IV, spontaneous ventilation for 24/24 h was recorded. A gradual decrease of lymphocytes and cell subpopulations was observed. No variations in the in vitro T cell response to PHA were determined by MSC treatment as well as for the in vitro B cell response. A decrease in IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-10 levels was also detected. Even though we cannot exclude an improvement of pulmonary function due to the physiological maturation, the well-known action of MSCs in the repair of lung tissue, together with the sequence of events observed in our patient, may support the therapeutic role of MSCs in this clinical condition. However, further investigations are necessary to confirm the result and long-term follow-up will be mandatory to confirm the benefits on the pulmonary condition.