title: Lung Regeneration Therapy for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
abstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a critical condition with high morbidity and mortality. Although several medications are available, there are no definite treatments. However, recent advances in the understanding of stem and progenitor cells in the lung, and molecular changes during re-alveolization after pneumonectomy, have made it possible to envisage the regeneration of damaged lungs. With this background, numerous studies of stem cells and various stimulatory molecules have been undertaken, to try and regenerate destroyed lungs in animal models of COPD. Both the cell and drug therapies show promising results. However, in contrast to the successes in laboratories, no clinical trials have exhibited satisfactory efficacy, although they were generally safe and tolerable. In this article, we review the previous experimental and clinical trials, and summarize the recent advances in lung regeneration therapy for COPD. Furthermore, we discuss the current limitations and future perspectives of this emerging field.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Kyu
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Seoul, Korea.; University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: You-Sun
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.; Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Seoul, Korea.; University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yeon-Mok
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Oh
keywords: Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy; Drug Therapy; Emphysema; Lung; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Regeneration; Regenerative Medicine; Retinoids; Stem Cells