Jerusalem : Embryonic stem cells can be used to repair damaged lung tissue in those with severe respiratory disease, researchers have found.
Collectively, such diseases of the airways as emphysema, bronchitis, asthma and cystic fibrosis are the second leading cause of death worldwide.
Researchers knew that certain stem cells that normally reside in the lungs are highly similar to those in the bone marrow.
In each organ, the stem cells, rather than being distributed throughout the tissue, are concentrated in special compartments that contain the provisions that stem cells need.
“That understanding suggested to us that we might be able to apply our knowledge of techniques for transplanting bone marrow stem cells to repairing lung tissue,” said Yair Reisner from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel.
Bone marrow transplant is based on two main principles — the ability of stem cells to navigate through the blood to the appropriate compartment and the prior clearing out of the compartment to make room for the transplanted stem cells.
Reisner and his group thought it might possible to apply these principles to introducing new stem cells into the lungs.
For this, the researchers needed to find a source of lung stem cells suitable for transplanting. This poses a problem, as they are quite rare, the researchers said.
The group overcame this obstacle by using embryonic stem cells from the 20th to 22nd week. Their research showed that this is the ideal time frame in which to harvest the cells.
Younger cells would not have completed the process of differentiation while older cells are less capable of lung regeneration. — PTI
