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Updated: Mar 7, 2026
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Generation of 3D Whole Lung Organoids from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Modeling Lung Developmental Biology and Disease
Published on: April 12, 2021
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Plasticity in the lung: making and breaking cell identity
Purushothama Rao Tata1,2,3, Jayaraj Rajagopal4,2,3,5,6
1Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Development (Cambridge, England)
|March 2, 2017
Summary
Adult lung stem cells show remarkable plasticity, changing lineage identity after injury. This cellular plasticity is crucial for lung repair and adaptation to environmental exposures.
Area of Science:
- Cellular Biology
- Regenerative Medicine
- Pulmonary Biology
Background:
- Traditionally, cell fate decisions were considered final.
- Cellular plasticity is now recognized as a key feature in adult organ systems.
- The adult mammalian lung harbors distinct epithelial stem and progenitor cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of adult mammalian lung cell lineages.
- To explore the responses of these lineages to injury.
- To highlight the role of epithelial plasticity in lung homeostasis and repair.
Main Methods:
- Lineage tracing studies in adult mammalian lungs.
- Review of existing literature on lung epithelial cell biology and injury responses.
Main Results:
- Adult lung epithelial cells maintain stable identities under normal conditions.
- These cells exhibit significant lineage plasticity following injury.
- Different types of injury may trigger distinct facultative cellular responses.
Conclusions:
- Cellular plasticity is a fundamental aspect of adult lung biology, not just a developmental phenomenon.
- Epithelial plasticity is likely a common mechanism for lung adaptation and repair in response to constant environmental challenges.
- Understanding these plastic responses is key to advancing regenerative medicine for lung diseases.
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