Stem Cells in the Respiratory System

The lung is one of the most complex organs, including more than 14 different types of cells. Lungs are highly susceptible to injury since the direct exposure to the environment and as an obligatory pass of the whole blood steam for oxygenation. Mechanisms of lung repair are complex and may diverge according to the injured type of cell. Because the multipotentiality of stem cells, they have been considered as a novel alternative mechanism of lung repair. Stem cell can be described as a cell which has the potential of self renewal and to give origin to different types of cells. Cells with these characteristics and the capacity to participate in lung repair can be found locally in the lung or can be recruited from distant organs like bone marrow. The purpose of this book is to discuss the potential role of the different types of stem cell in lung repair. We will describe animal models in which stem cells have been used and the implications for their use as future therapy in lung diseases.