Molecular, cellular, and bioengineering approaches to stimulate lung regeneration after injury

The lung is susceptible to damage from a variety of sources throughout development and in adulthood. As a result, the lung has great capacities for repair and regeneration, directed by precisely controlled sequences of molecular and signaling pathways. Impairments or alterations in these signaling events can have deleterious effects on lung structure and function, ultimately leading to chronic lung disorders. When lung injury is too severe for the normal pathways to repair, or if those pathways do not function properly, lung regenerative medicine is needed to restore adequate structure and function. Great progress has been made in recent years in the number of regenerative techniques and their efficacy. This review will address recent progress in lung regenerative medicine focusing on pharmacotherapy including the expanding role of nanotechnology, stem cell-based therapies, and bioengineering techniques. The use of these techniques individually and collectively has the potential to significantly improve morbidity and mortality associated with congenital and acquired lung disorders.