Pulmonary diseases, as a prevalent category of respiratory system disorders, have become a significant global public health concern. The increasing incidence of these diseases, caused by environmental pollution and occupational hazards, poses a substantial threat to human health and the overall quality of life. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are known for their remarkable immunomodulatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-apoptotic capabilities. Exosomes derived from MSCs, carrying a diverse array of proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and other bio-active molecules, have demonstrated considerable therapeutic potential in treating pulmonary diseases, and have come to the forefront of medical research. This review summarized the therapeutic role of exosomes derived from various sources of mesenchymal stem cells in the context of pulmonary diseases, aiming to provide a robust foundation for their clinical application in diagnosis and treatment.
Exosomes/transplantation* ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Lung Diseases/therapy* ; Animals

BACKGROUND: For lung transplant recipients (LTRs), rehabilitation management after lung transplantation is a crucial link affecting the recovery of pulmonary function. This study systematically summarizes and generalizes the relevant evidences on postoperative pulmonary function rehabilitation management in LTRs, thereby providing a basis for formulating clinical strategies for postoperative pulmonary function rehabilitation management in this patient population. METHODS: Based on the "6S" evidence model, a systematic search was conducted in domestic and international databases and websites, including UpToDate, BMJ Best Practice, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, Guidelines International Network (GIN), and China Yimai Tong Guidelines Network, from the establishment of each database to July 2025. Relevant evidences on postoperative pulmonary function rehabilitation management for LTRs were extracted, and two researchers independently conducted quality assessment, evidence extraction, and integration of the included literature. RESULTS: A total of 18 studies were included, consisting of 3 expert consensuses, 4 systematic reviews/evidence summaries, 4 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 5 quasi-experimental studies, and 2 cohort studies. A total of 30 pieces of best evidence were summarized, covering 8 themes: rehabilitation assessment, early intervention, exercise training, nutritional management, medication management, respiratory function training, psychological support, and long-term follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Based on evidence-based principles, this study summarizes the best evidence for postoperative pulmonary function rehabilitation training in LTRs and proposes 30 clinically applicable recommendations, which provides a theoretical basis for the clinical implementation of pulmonary function rehabilitation management. Clinical medical and nursing staff should combine specific clinical scenarios and professional judgments to translate the evidence into practice, and provide scientific rehabilitation management and guidance for LTRs.
Humans ; Lung Transplantation/rehabilitation* ; Lung/surgery* ; Transplant Recipients

Humans ; Lung Transplantation/adverse effects* ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between postoperative driving pressure (DP) and the prognosis of lung transplantation, and to further evaluate the value of early DP monitoring in lung transplantation. METHODS: A observational study was conducted. The patients after lung transplantation who admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Wuxi People's Hospital from February 1, 2022 to February 1, 2023 were collected. They were divided into low DP group (DP≤15 cmH₂O, 1 cmH₂O ≈ 0.098 kPa) and high DP group (DP > 15 cmH₂O) according to DP within 2 hours after operation. The clinical data including general information, primary disease, chronic diseases, cardiopulmonary function, laboratory indicators, intraoperative condition, postoperative lactic acid (Lac) and ventilator parameters were collected. Primary outcomes included 28-day and 90-day survival, and secondary outcomes included occurrence of primary graft dysfunction (PGD), duration of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), duration of mechanical ventilation, weaning of mechanical ventilation, and length of ICU stay. The general data and observations between the two groups were compared. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis was conducted to analyze the situation of mechanical ventilation and 90-day survival. Receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was used to evaluate the predictive ability of DP for failed weaning of mechanical ventilation and 90-day death. The dose-response relationship between DP and 90-day death risk was determined by restricted cubic spline model. Univariate analysis was performed using Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: A total of 101 patients were enrolled, with 68 patients (67.3%) in the low DP group and 33 patients (32.7%) in the high DP group. No statistically significant difference in general information, chronic diseases, primary diseases, cardiopulmonary function, laboratory indicators, intraoperative conditions, and postoperative Lac between the two groups was found. Compared with the low DP group, the patients in the high DP group had higher inspiratory pressure (Pinsp) and incidence of PGD with grade 3 at 24 hours after operation [Pinsp (cmH₂O): 21.0±0.6 vs. 20.0±0.7, PGD with grade 3 at 24 hours: 60.6% (20/33) vs. 39.7% (27/68), both P < 0.05], longer duration of ECMO, duration of mechanical ventilation, and the length of ICU stay [duration of ECMO (hours): 37 (21, 109) vs. 22 (14, 43), duration of mechanical ventilation (days): 3.1 (1.8, 10.7) vs. 1.9 (1.1, 3.2), length of ICU stay (days): 6 (3, 13) vs. 4 (3, 5), all P < 0.05], and lower successful weaning rate of mechanical ventilation [81.8% (27/33) vs. 95.6% (65/68), P < 0.05). The 28-day and 90-day survival rates in the high DP group were significantly higher than those in the low DP group [28-day: 69.7% (23/33) vs. 86.8% (59/68), 90-day: 63.6% (21/33) vs. 83.8% (57/68), both P < 0.05]. Kaplan-Meier curve showed that the patients in the low DP group were weaned and extubated earlier than high DP group, and the cumulative situation of weaning was better (Log-Rank test: χ ² = 14.054, P < 0.001), and the 90-day cumulative survival rate in the low DP group was significantly higher than that in the high DP group (Log-Rank test: χ ² = 4.791, P = 0.029). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under ROC curve (AUC) of DP for predicting 90-day death was 0.664 [95% confidence internal (95%CI) was 0.540-0.787, P = 0.017], and the AUC for predicting failed weaning of mechanical ventilation was 0.794 (95%CI was 0.667-0.921, P = 0.004). Results of restricted cubic spline model analysis showed that the 90-day death risk continued to increase with the DP < 18 cmH₂O; when DP≥18 cmH₂O, elevated DP did not continue to increase the 90-day death risk, showing a plateau effect. Univariate analysis showed that DP was independent risk factors of 90-day death, and the death risk increased by 9.3% for every 1 cmH₂O increase in DP [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.093, 95%CI was 1.007-1.186, P = 0.033]. CONCLUSIONS DP is an independent risk factor of death after lung transplantation, and early postoperative DP may be used as a predictor of failed weaning of mechanical ventilation and 90-day death after lung transplantation.
Humans ; Lung Transplantation ; Prognosis ; Respiration, Artificial ; Intensive Care Units ; Postoperative Period ; Pressure ; Primary Graft Dysfunction/epidemiology* ; Transplant Recipients ; Female ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; Male ; ROC Curve ; Middle Aged

Humans ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Atrial Flutter ; Lung Transplantation/adverse effects*

The current organ allocation rules prioritize elderly and urgent patients on the lung transplantation (LT) waiting list. A steady increase in the threshold at which age is taken into consideration for LT has been observed. This retrospective cohort study recruited 166 lung transplant recipients aged ≽ 65 years between January 2016 and October 2020 in the largest LT center in China. In the cohort, subgroups of patients aged 65-70 years (111 recipients, group 65-70) and ≽ 70 years (55 recipients, group ≽ 70) were included. Group D restrictive lung disease was the main indication of a lung transplant in recipients over 65 years. A significantly higher percentage of coronary artery stenosis was observed in the group ≽ 70 (30.9% vs. 14.4% in group 65-70, P = 0.014). ECMO bridging to LT was performed in 5.4% (group 65-70) and 7.3% (group ≽ 70) of patients. Kaplan-Meier estimates showed that recipients with cardiac abnormalities had a significantly increased risk of mortality. After adjusting for potential confounders, cardiac abnormality was shown to be independently associated with the increased risk of post-LT mortality (HR 6.37, P = 0.0060). Our result showed that LT can be performed in candidates with an advanced age and can provide life-extending benefits.
Aged ; Humans ; East Asian People ; Heart Diseases/etiology* ; Lung Transplantation/adverse effects* ; Retrospective Studies

Humans ; Pyroptosis ; Lung Transplantation ; Bronchiolitis Obliterans

Voluntary contribution has become the only source of donor lungs in China since 2015. To elaborate the outcomes of patients awaiting lung transplantation (LTx) after the implementation of donation after brain death, we performed a retrospective study that encompassed 205 patients with end-stage lung disease who registered for LTx at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital from January 1, 2015 to January 1, 2021. A total of 180 patients were enrolled in the study. The median waiting time was 1.25 months. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) (103/180, 57.2%) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (56/180, 31.1%) were the most common diseases in our study population. The mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) of patients in the died-waiting group was higher than that of the survivors (53.29±21.71 mmHg vs. 42.11±18.58 mmHg, P=0.002). The mortality of patients with ILD (34/103, 33.00%) was nearly twice that of patients with COPD (10/56, 17.86%) while awaiting LTx (P=0.041). In the died-waiting group, patients with ILD had a shorter median waiting time than patients with COPD after being listed (0.865 months vs. 4.720 months, P=0.030). ILD as primary disease and mPAP > 35 mmHg were two significant independent risk factors for waitlist mortality, with hazard ratios (HR) of 3.483 (95% CI 1.311-9.111; P=0.011) and 3.500 (95% CI 1.435-8.536; P=0.006). Hence, LTx is more urgently needed in patients with ILD and pulmonary hypertension.
Humans ; Brain Death ; Retrospective Studies ; China ; Lung Transplantation ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/surgery*

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and serious complication following lung transplantation (LTx), and it is associated with high mortality and morbidity. This study assessed the incidence of AKI after LTx and analyzed the associated perioperative factors and clinical outcomes. METHODS: This retrospective study included all adult LTx recipients at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital in Beijing between March 2017 and December 2019. The outcomes were AKI incidence, risk factors, mortality, and kidney recovery. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors. Survival analysis was presented using the Kaplan-Meier curves. RESULTS: AKI occurred in 137 of the 191 patients (71.7%), with transient AKI in 43 (22.5%) and persistent AKI in 94 (49.2%). AKI stage 1 occurred in 27/191 (14.1%), stage 2 in 46/191 (24.1%), and stage 3 in 64/191 (33.5%) of the AKI patients. Renal replacement therapy (RRT) was administered to 35/191 (18.3%) of the patients. Male sex, older age, mechanical ventilation (MV), severe hypotension, septic shock, multiple organ dysfunction (MODS), prolonged extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), reintubation, and nephrotoxic agents were associated with AKI (P < 0.050). Persistent AKI was independently associated with pre-operative pulmonary hypertension, severe hypotension, post-operative MODS, and nephrotoxic agents. Severe hypotension, septic shock, MODS, reintubation, prolonged MV, and ECMO during or after LTx were related to severe AKI (stage 3) (P < 0.050). Patients with persistent and severe AKI had a significantly longer duration of MV, longer duration in the intensive care unit (ICU), worse downstream kidney function, and reduced survival (P < 0.050). CONCLUSIONS AKI is common after LTx, but the pathogenic mechanism of AKI is complicated, and prerenal causes are important. Persistent and severe AKI were associated with poor short- and long-term kidney function and reduced survival in LTx patients.
Acute Kidney Injury/etiology* ; Aged ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lung Transplantation/adverse effects* ; Male ; Renal Replacement Therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) is a rare and serious complication after lung transplantation, with no characteristic of pathological manifestation, no systematic standard treatment, and the poor efficacy and prognosis. We reported a case of early AMR after lung transplantation and the relevant literature has been reviewed. A male patient presented with symptoms of cold 99 days after transplantation and resolved after symptomatic treatment. He admitted to the hospital 14 days later because of a sudden dyspnea and fever. Anti-bacteria, anti-fungi, anti-virus, and anti-pneumocystis carinii treatment were ineffective, and a dose of 1 000 mg methylprednisolone did not work too. The patient's condition deteriorated rapidly and tracheal intubation was done to maintain breathing. Serum panel reactive antibody and donor specific antibody showed postive in humen leukocyte antigen (HLA) II antibody. Pathological examination after transbronchial transplantation lung biopsy showed acute rejection. Clinical AMR was diagnosed combined the donor-specific antibody with the pathological result. The patient was functionally recovered after combined treatment with thymoglobuline, rituximab, plasmapheresis, and immunoglobulin. No chronic lung allograft dysfunction was found after 3 years follow up. We should alert the occurrence of AMR in lung transplantation recipient who admitted to hospital with a sudden dyspnea and fever while showed no effect after common anti-infection and anti-rejection treatment. Transbronchial transplantation lung biopsy and the presence of serum donor-specific antibody are helpful to the diagnosis. The treatment should be preemptive and a comprehensive approach should be adopted.
Graft Rejection ; Graft Survival ; HLA Antigens ; Humans ; Isoantibodies ; Lung Transplantation/adverse effects* ; Male