Transplantation of Airway Epithelial Stem/Progenitor Cells: A Future for Cell-Based Therapy
Year: 2016
Type: article
Abstract: Cell therapy has the potential to cure disease through replacement of malfunctioning cells. Although the tissue stem cell (TSC) is thought to be the optimal therapeutic cell, transplantation of TSC/progenitor cell mixtures has saved lives. We previously purified the mouse tracheobronchial epithelial TSCs and reported that in vitro amplification generated numerous TSCs. However, these cultures also contained TSC-derived progenitor cells and TSC repurification by flow cytometry compromised TSC self-renewal. These limitations prompted us to determine if a TSC/progenitor cell mixture would repopulate the injured airway epithelium. We developed a cell transplantation protocol and demonstrate that transplanted mouse and human tracheobronchial epithelial TSC/progenitor cell mixtures are 20-25% of airway epithelial cells, actively contribute to epithelial repair, and persist for at least 43 days. At 2 weeks after transplantation, TSCs/progenitor cells differentiated into the three major epithelial cell types: basal, secretory, and ciliated. We conclude that cell therapy that uses adult tracheobronchial TSCs/progenitor cells is an effective therapeutic option.
Language: English
Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute, National Jewish Health, National Institutes of Health, Cancer Center, University of Colorado, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Center for Research Resources
Awards: Wnt Regulation of Tracheobronchial Regeneration, Novel therapeutics for vesicants and toxic inhaled chemicals (U54), Cell Based Therapy for Lung Disease, Lung epithelial cell survival signaling in ozone in cystic fibrosis and normals, A Promitotic Stem Cell Niche: Role For Beta-Catenin and TGFbeta, Development of antidotes for toxic gases, Colorado Clinical and Translational Science Institute (KL2), G9000273811, University of Colorado Cancer Center Support Grant
OpenAlex ID: W2520094090