Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading global cause of morbidity and mortality,which is characterized by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible but usually progressive.The key to COPD is how to repair damaged lung tissue and regenerate the lost alveoli.The strategies to reverse the structural and functional deficits in COPD include in endogenous cell therapy and the delivery of exogenous stem cells such as embryonic stem cells,bone marrow-derived stem cells and amniotic fluid mesenchymal stem cells.There are currently two trials in progress concerning patients with COPD,one of a specific all-trans retinoic acid receptor agonist and another one using bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.The safety and efficacy still remains to be observed.As the regulatory mechanisms of the directed differentiation of stem cells are studied in-depth,stem cells therapy will bring a new hope for the treatment of COPD. Key words: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Alveolar epithelial cells; Stem cells; Lung regeneration
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