ARDS and Tissue Engineering : Stem Cell Research Yields Mature Small Airway Epithelium Lung Cells That Can Be Used to Repair Lung Lining.

Researchers from Imperial College have successfully converted human embryonic stem cells into lung cells, thereby paving a way to building replacement human lungs for transplantation.

The research showed that using a specialized system, it is possible to encourage human embryonic stem cells to evolve into the cells capable of carrying out gas exchange (for replenishing blood oxygen and excreting carbon dioxide) -just as the cells within the lung lining do.

Even though it will be probably many years before the technology to actually build replacement lungs for transplantation is fully developed, this is certainly a major step towards that goal.

This research shows that under right environment, it is possible to entice human embryonic stem cells to differentiate into the types of cells that could be used to repair damaged lungs, to repair lungs severely damaged by incurable respiratory diseases such as lung cancer, and to eventually build replacement lungs for transplantation.

Further research would be needed to investigate whether or not such cells could be derived using stem cells from other sources -such as those present in umbilical cord blood and bone marrow.

For the patients suffering from respiratory diseases such as Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) -a disorder of the lining of the lungs -it may some day be possible to rebuild the lining within their lungs after being injected with stem cells. The new lung cells so created could potentially help not only ARDS patients repopulate their lung lining, but also many others suffering from various respiratory diseases that lead to pulmonary insufficiency.

Source: Imperial College Website