Tissue regeneration as next-generation therapy for COPD – potential applications

Review

(2549) Views  (4236) Full article downloads

Authors: Shunsuke Ohnishi, Noritoshi Nagaya

Published Date August 2008 Volume 2008:3(4) Pages 509 - 514

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S1092

Shunsuke Ohnishi, Noritoshi Nagaya

Department of Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering, National Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka, Japan

Abstract: COPD is a major cause of chronic morbidity and mortality worldwide, and there is a need to develop more effective therapeutic strategies to replace specialized treatment such as lung transplantation. Recent studies suggest that recognition of apoptotic lung epithelial or endothelial cells may result in growth factors to stimulate cell replacement, and defects in these processes may contribute to the pathogenesis of COPD. Furthermore, recent animal and human studies have revealed that tissue-specific stem cells and bone marrow-derived cells contribute to lung tissue regeneration and protection, and thus administration of exogenous stem/progenitor cells or humoral factors responsible for activation of endogenous stem/progenitor cells may be a potent next-generation therapy for COPD.

Keywords: COPD, regenerative medicine, cell therapy, stem cell, bone marrow, growth factor