Research progress and translational medicine on stem cell in alveolar regeneration

Abstract

Alveoli are an important part of the respiratory system whose function is to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide molecules from the bloodstream. Maintaining the integrity and barrier function of the alveoli requires complex interactions of multiple cell lineages. Hence, comprehensive understanding of the biology of lung stem cells could improve the treatment of patients with lung disorders such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, fibrotic lung disease and cancer. This review focuses on recent progresses on mammalian alveolar stem cell subpopulations and PSC-derived lung models and discusses insights about the regeneration-specific cell status of alveolar stem cells. We also provide future directions for an improved understanding of post-injury lung repair processes and lung diseases.

Keywords

• stem cell
• lung injury
• alveolar regeneration