Stem cells--potential for repairing damaged lungs and growing human lungs for transplant.
Repair or regeneration of defective lung epithelium would be of great therapeutic potential. It is estimated by the British Lung Foundation that 1 in 7 people in the UK is affected by a lung disease and that 1 in 4 admissions to children's wards are as a result of respiratory problems. Potential cellular sources for the regeneration of lung tissue in vivo or lung tissue engineering in vitro include endogenous pulmonary epithelial stem cells, extrapulmonary circulating stem cells and embryonic stem cells. This article discusses the potential role of each of these stem cell types in future approaches to the treatment of lung injury and disease.
Bishop
Anne E
AE
Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine Centre, Chelsea & Westminster Campus, Fulham Road, London, SW10 9NH, UK. a.e.bishop@imperial.ac.uk
Rippon
Helen J
HJ
D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D012038:Regeneration; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000379:methods