Human Lung Stem Cells Confirmed

This is an indication that stemcells can be extracted from any organ and then used to rebuild that sameorgan.  Sooner or later we are going toget there.  Obviously, the most pressingorgan is the heart, but lung tissue and kidneys are not far behind.

I suspect that this next fiveyears will see effective tissue replacement been made available for allorgans.  It is really happening that fastand I see little reason to pull my punches on this.  All the initial promise of stem cells is nowemerging as our shill and understanding improves.

Simply ending lung disease willbe a boon as the cost of care is typically catastrophic.  It could even be done on a piece by piecebasis which is likely barbaric but still a possibility.

One of the unstated outcomes ofthe present revolution in medical knowledge is that costly chronic conditions areclose to disappearing and saving huge amounts of cash presently spent tosupport its victims.

Human lung stem cell discovered

by Staff Writers

Boston MA(SPX) May 13, 2011

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Human_lung_stem_cell_discovered_999.html

For the first time, researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) haveidentified a human lung stem cell that is self-renewing and capable of formingand integrating multiple biological structures of the lung includingbronchioles, alveoli and pulmonary vessels. This research is published in thethe New England Journal of Medicine.

"This research describes, for the first time, a true human lungstem cell. The discovery of this stem cell has the potential to offer those whosuffer from chronic lung diseases a totally novel treatment option byregenerating or repairing damaged areas of the lung," said Piero Anversa,MD, director of the Center for Regenerative Medicineat Brigham and Women's Hospital and corresponding author.

Using lung tissue from surgical samples, researchers identified andisolated the human lung stem cell and tested the functionality of the stem cellboth in vitro and in vivo. Once the stem cell was isolated, researchersdemonstrated in vitro that the cell was capable of dividing both into newstem cells andalso into cells that would grow into various types of lung tissue.

Next, researchers injected the stem cell into mice with damaged lungs.The injected stem cells differentiated into new bronchioles, alveoli and pulmonaryvessel cells which not only formed new lung tissue, but also integratedstructurally to the existing lung tissue in the mice.

The researchers define this cell as truly "stem"because it fulfills the three categories necessary to fall under stem cellcategorization: first, the cell renews itself; second, it forms into manydifferent types of lung cells; and third, it is transmissible, meaning thatafter a mouse was injected with the stem cells and responded by generating newtissue, researchers were then able to isolate the stem cell in the treatedmouse, and use that cell in a new mouse with the same results.

"These are the critical first steps in developing clinicaltreatments for those with lung disease for which no therapies exist. Furtherresearch is needed, but we are excited about the impact this discovery couldhave on our ability to regenerate or recreate new lung tissues to replacedamaged areas of the lungs," said Joseph Loscalzo, MD, PhD, chair of theDepartment of Medicine at BWH and co-author.