It’s the peak season for rhinitis again! Stem cells can keep you away from allergic rhinitis

Since March 2025, the pollen concentration in Beijing has remained at a "high to very high level". Visitors to the Temple of Heaven Park and other places described that "standing for 10 seconds will be covered with pollen", and the symptoms of rhinitis patients have significantly worsened. In spring, the wind-borne pollen of Cupressaceae and Salicaceae plants is small and easy to disperse, becoming the main allergen, while traditional protective measures (such as spraying water to reduce dust and pruning branches) can only provide short-term relief. Allergic rhinitis patients not only face symptoms such as nasal congestion and runny nose, but may also develop complications such as asthma, and urgently need more effective treatments.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa that occurs when atopic individuals come into contact with allergens. It is initiated by the release of inflammatory mediators (mainly histamine) mediated by IgE and involves immunocompetent cells, pro-inflammatory cells, and cytokines. It affects not only people's physical health, but also their mental health.

Not only will it lead to low work and study efficiency and poor sleep quality, but if treatment is delayed or improper, it may also induce a variety of complications. 40% of patients may have bronchial asthma, and nasal symptoms may also be accompanied by lung symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness.

• Limitations of traditional treatments

Current conventional treatments include antihistamines, nasal hormones, desensitization therapy, etc., but there are the following problems:

• High drug dependence: Long-term use is required and may cause side effects such as drowsiness and drug resistance.
• The desensitization treatment cycle is long: it takes 3-5 years, and some patients find it difficult to persist due to adverse reactions.
• Unable to cure immune imbalance: only relieves symptoms but cannot regulate the overactive Th2 immune response that causes allergies.

• Principles and advantages of stem cell therapy

Stem cell therapy provides a new approach to the treatment of rhinitis by regulating the immune system and repairing damaged tissues. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a hot topic in current research, and their mechanisms of action include:

• Immunomodulation: inhibits Th2 type allergic reactions (releasing inflammatory factors such as IL-4, IL-5), promotes Th1 type anti-inflammatory reactions (increases IFN-γ levels), and reduces inflammation from the source.
• Tissue repair: Home to the nasal mucosa, differentiate into epithelial cells or secrete growth factors to repair the barrier damaged by inflammation.
• Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial: Reduce the levels of allergic mediators such as histamine and IgE, and inhibit eosinophil infiltration.

Compared with traditional therapies, stem cell therapy has the following advantages:

• Long-term effect: Long-term remission or even cure may be achieved through immune regulation.
• Safety: Autologous stem cell transplantation reduces the risk of rejection and has fewer side effects than drugs.

Advice for patients with rhinitis

While waiting for stem cell therapy to become more common, patients can take the following steps:

• Protection is a priority: Avoid going out during the peak pollen season, wear a mask and goggles, and use an air purifier.
• Drug prevention: Use nasal spray hormones or antihistamines 2-4 weeks in advance.
• Pay attention to scientific research trends: track the progress of domestic stem cell clinical research and participate in trials when appropriate.

A large number of studies have shown that mesenchymal stem cells and exosomes have demonstrated their unique advantages in various clinical studies, and are safe, effective, and have no side effects.

With the deepening of clinical research on stem cells, the positive performance in many fields has also given us new hope for stem cells in the direction of allergic rhinitis.

We also believe that as the technology matures and research on the treatment of allergic rhinitis continues to advance, stem cells and their exosomes will provide a new and feasible cure strategy for many patients suffering from rhinitis, benefiting the public. Stem cell therapy provides a breakthrough possibility for allergic rhinitis from "treating the symptoms" to "treating the cause".

As cities such as Beijing strengthen pollen source control (such as replacing allergenic tree species) and combine it with emerging biotechnology, patients with allergic rhinitis can expect to breathe more freely in the spring.

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