Scientists have succeeded in transforming human stem cells into functional lung and airway cells, thus giving way to the possibility of generating lung tissue for transplant using a patient’s own cells. The study by Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) researchers has significant potential for modelling lung disease, screening drugs, studying human lung development, and, ultimately, generating lung tissue for transplantation.

 

‘Researchers have had relative success in turning human stem cells into heart cells, pancreatic beta cells, intestinal cells, liver cells, and nerve cells, raising all sorts of possibilities for regenerative medicine,’ study leader Hans-Willem Snoeck said. ‘Now, we are finally able to make lung and airway cells. This is important because lung transplants have a particularly poor prognosis. Although any clinical application is still many years away, we can begin thinking about making autologous lung transplants—that is, transplants that use a patient’s own skin cells to generate functional lung tissue.’ The research builds on Dr Snoeck’s 2011 discovery of a set of chemical factors that can turn human embryonic stem (ES) cells or human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells into anterior foregut endoderm—precursors of lung and airway cells. The findings have implications for the study of a number of lung diseases, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), in which type 2 alveolar epithelial cells are thought to play a central role. 

 

 

What are stem cells?

 Stem cells are cells which are capable of giving rise to more cells of the same type. They are of particular interest because they are capable of replenishing dying cells and can regenerate damaged tissues. Experts believe that stem cell treatments will play an important role in alleviating human diseases. Right now the only cost beneficial stem cell therapy is bone marrow transplantation but experts believe that it can be soon used to treat cancer, diabetes, Parkinson’s, cardiac failures and can facilitate organ transplantation with minimal risk of rejection and side-effects.

 

 

Diseases that can be treated using stem cells

Stem cells can be used to treat a variety of blood cancers, blood disorders including anaemic anaemia, tumours, immune disorders and metabolic disorders. Also clinical trials on which suggest that in the future stems from the umbilical cord can be used to treat Alzheimer’s,  Parkinson’s, hydrocephalus, liver cirrhosis, strokes and traumatic brain injuries. Research is also on to check its application for treating type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and rheumatoid arthritis.

 

http://health.india.com/news/could-stem-cells-be-used-to-create-new-lungs/ 

 

 

LFLN REF. 27.03.14 P.61