Stem Cells Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Stem Cells, including details on research, transplants, therapy, benefits.

Stem Cells and Chronic Lung Disease.

Gomperts BN, Strieter RM

Mattel Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA bgomperts@mednet.ucla.edu.

Stem cells have been shown to contribute to the repair and regeneration of injured lungs. These stem cells are resident in specific protected niches in the lung, or they can be mobilized from the bone marrow and recruited from the circulation in the setting of severe injury. Normal repair of the airway involves regeneration of the airway epithelium by stem cells in both the proximal airway and distal airspace, whereas aberrant repair of the lung may result from stem cells that lead to fibrosis. The stem cell niche in the lung is probably critical in determining whether "good" or "bad" stem cells are involved in local repair, and therefore whether fibrosis predominates. There is much excitement about the possibility of harnessing stem cells for repair and regeneration of the lungs. This review highlights current knowledge of this area and identifies gaps in our understanding of this complicated process. Expected online publication date for the Annual Review of Medicine Volume 58 is January 7, 2007. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/catalog/pub_dates.asp for revised estimates.

Published 4 August 2006 in Annu Rev Med.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Stem Cells Research Today. All Rights Reserved.