biostudies-literatureXu JKashi Regional Science and Technology Program Projectsthe Hospital Scientific research project of the First People's Hospital of KashiDedicated funding for stem cell research project of the First People's Hospital of Kashi28339https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12322009biostudies-literatureUnknown15(1)Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a progressive, irreversible disease with limited effective treatments. Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) have recently shown promise in PF therapy. This study evaluated the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of UC-MSCs combined with pirfenidone (PFD) in a bleomycin-induced PF model. C57BL/6 mice were divided into nine groups: control, model, PFD (100 mg/kg), UC-MSCs (0.5 × 10⁶, 1.0 × 10⁶, and 2.0 × 10⁶ cells per animal), and PFD (100 mg/kg) + UC-MSCs (0.5 × 10⁶, 1.0 × 10⁶, and 2.0 × 10⁶ cells per animal). The model was established by intratracheal bleomycin instillation. PFD was administered intraperitoneally twice daily from day 4 to 21 in the PFD and PFD + UC-MSCs grouScientific reportsPirfenidone combined with UC-MSCs reversed bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.PMC123220092023-13KDYY202312KS2023012KS2022033Abudureheman ZZou XZhong XXue LLi LXu JGong HfalsePirfenidone combined with UC-MSCs reversed bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a progressive, irreversible disease with limited effective treatments. Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) have recently shown promise in PF therapy. This study evaluated the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of UC-MSCs combined with pirfenidone (PFD) in a bleomycin-induced PF model. C57BL/6 mice were divided into nine groups: control, model, PFD (100 mg/kg), UC-MSCs (0.5 × 10⁶, 1.0 × 10⁶, and 2.0 × 10⁶ cells per animal), and PFD (100 mg/kg) + UC-MSCs (0.5 × 10⁶, 1.0 × 10⁶, and 2.0 × 10⁶ cells per animal). The model was established by intratracheal bleomycin instillation. PFD was administered intraperitoneally twice daily from day 4 to 21 in the PFD and PFD + UC-MSCs grou2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Aug2026-04-08T23:20:28.703Z2026-04-07T13:17:42.582ZS-EPMC123220094076015810.1038/s41598-025-14286-4