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Isolation and Enrichment of Human Lung Epithelial Progenitor Cells for Organoid Culture
Published on: July 21, 2020
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Evidence for human lung stem cells
Jan Kajstura1, Marcello Rota, Sean R Hall
1Department of Anesthesia, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
The New England Journal of Medicine
|May 13, 2011
Summary
Human lungs harbor resident stem cells in the distal airways. These cells regenerate damaged lung tissue in animal models, showing potential for treating lung diseases.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Stem Cell Biology
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Resident stem cells in the human lung have not been clearly identified.
- Previous research described progenitor cells in various lung regions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize human lung stem cells.
- To evaluate their regenerative potential in vivo.
Main Methods:
- Human lung tissue specimens were analyzed in situ.
- Phenotype and functional properties were assessed in vitro and in vivo.
- Stem cell behavior was studied in serial-transplantation assays.
Main Results:
- Undifferentiated human lung stem cells were found in distal airway niches.
- These cells demonstrated self-renewal, clonogenicity, and multipotency in vitro.
- In vivo, human lung stem cells regenerated functional bronchioles, alveoli, and pulmonary vessels in damaged mouse lungs, forming a chimeric lung.
Conclusions:
- Identifiable stem cells exist in the human lung.
- These cells contribute to tissue homeostasis and regeneration in animal models.
- They hold potential for lung tissue restoration in patients with lung disease.
