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Clinical Science (2008) 114, (99–108) (Printed in Great Britain)

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Review article

Therapeutic potential of stem cells in lung disease: progress and pitfalls

Michael R. LOEBINGER, Susana AGUILAR and Sam M. JANES

Centre of Respiratory Research, Rayne Building, University College London, 5 University Street, London WC1E 6JJ, U.K.

Key words: airway, bone marrow, gene therapy, lung disease, epithelial cell, progenitor, stem cell.

Abbreviations: ARDS, acute respiratory distress syndrome; BASC, bronchioalveolar stem cell; CCSP, Clara-cell-specific protein; CF, cystic fibrosis; CFTR, CF transmembrane conductance regulator; eNOS, endothelial nitric oxide synthase; EPC, endothelial progenitor cell; FAH, fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase; GFP, green fluorescent protein; HSC, haematopoietic stem cell; K14, ketatin 14; MAPC, multipotent adult progenitor cell; MSC, mesenchymal stem cell.

Correspondence: Dr Michael R. Loebinger (email m.loebinger@ucl.ac.uk).

There has been increasing excitement over the last few years with the suggestion that exogenous stem cells may offer new treatment options for a wide range of diseases. Within respiratory medicine, these cells have been shown to have the ability to differentiate and function as both airway and lung parenchyma epithelial cells in both in vitro and increasingly in vivo experiments. The hypothesis is that these cells may actively seek out damaged tissue to assist in the local repair, and the hope is that their use will open up new cellular and genetic treatment modalities. Such is the promise of these cells that they are being rushed from the benchside to the bedside with the commencement of early clinical trials. However, important questions over their use remain and the field is presently littered with controversy and uncertainty. This review evaluates the progress made and the pitfalls encountered to date, and critically assesses the evidence for the use of stem cells in lung disease.

Received 1 March 2007/5 June 2007; accepted 8 June 2007

Published on the Internet 11 December 2007, doi:10.1042/CS20070073

© The Authors Journal compilation © 2008 Biochemical Society