title: Progenitor cells of the distal lung and their potential role in neonatal lung disease.
abstract: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the most common adverse outcome in extreme preterm neonates (born before 28 weeks gestation). BPD is characterized by interrupted lung growth and may predispose to early-onset emphysema and poor lung function in later life. At present, there is no treatment for BPD. Recent advances in stem/progenitor cell biology have enabled the exploration of endogenous lung progenitor populations in health and disease. In parallel, exogenous stem/progenitor cell administration has shown promise in protecting the lung from injury in the experimental setting. This review will provide an outline of the progenitor populations that have currently been identified in all tissue compartments of the distal lung and how they may be affected in BPD. A thorough understanding of the lung's endogenous progenitor populations during normal development, injury and repair may one day allow us to harness their regenerative capacity.
authors.affiliation: Regenerative Medicine Program, Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Jennifer J P
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Thébaud
mesh_terms: D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D062071:Infant, Extremely Premature; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013234:Stem Cells
keywords: alveolar development; bronchopulmonary dysplasia; distal lung epithelial progenitors; lung development; lung epithelial progenitor cells; lung mesenchymal stromal cells; lung progenitors; microvascular development; preterm birth