Obiettivo
Sepsis is defined as a systemic inflammatory response to infection, while severe sepsis (SS) is a sepsis complicated by acute organ dysfunction. Lung infections, in particular community-acquire pneumonia (CAP), are the leading cause of SS. The pathophysiologic mechanism of CAP-mediated SS is the complete dysregulation of the patient´s immune system. In an initial phase, the systemic hyperactivation of the host immune response against infection leads to high levels of inflammatory mediators, systemic vasodilatation, micro-vascular thrombosis and organ failure. In a second phase, the exaggerated activation of the immune response leads to a state of ‘immunoparalysis’, which is characterized by the occurrence of secondary, opportunistic infections. This makes CAP-mediated SS a life-threatening condition with mortality rates as high as 28-50%. The current standard of care (infection removal and control, functional support) does not improve the high mortality and, thus, CAP-mediated SS represents a major unmet medical need with a huge social burden. Therefore, treatments with the potential to modulate both the initial exacerbated immunoactivation and the subsequent immunosuppression are needed. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), including adipose mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs), are known for their broad range of immunomodulatory properties, targeting multiple pro- and anti-inflammatory pathways, and possess antimicrobial capacities (releasing bactericidal peptides and promoting the phagocytosis by immune cells). Indeed, therapeutic benefit of MSC treatment in in vivo experimental models of sepsis has been extensively reported. The SEPCELL consortium believes that cell therapy with allogeneic ASCs may be an innovative therapeutic approach in order to re-establish the normal immune homeostasis of CAP-mediated SS patients, reducing organ injury and restoring organ functionality. A phase Ia/IIb clinical trial will be performed to test this possibility.
Campo scientifico
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinepneumology
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineangiologyvascular diseases
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinecritical care medicine
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicineimmunology
- medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologycells technologiesstem cells
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
Invito a presentare proposte
Vedi altri progetti per questo bandoBando secondario
H2020-PHC-2015-single-stage_RTD
Meccanismo di finanziamento
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinatore
28760 Tres Cantons
Spagna
L’organizzazione si è definita una PMI (piccola e media impresa) al momento della firma dell’accordo di sovvenzione.