Adult stem cells, lung biology, and lung disease

A continuing accumulation of data in both animal models and in clinical lung specimens suggests that exogenous reparative cells play a significant role in lung development and in lung repair and remodeling after injury. Nonetheless, these data are controversial both from the perspective of adequacy of experimental techniques to assess participation of reparative cells and from a need for better assessment of the specific functional role reparative cells might play in lung remodeling. It is hoped that the workshop recommendations will spark new research that will provide further understanding of the role of stem and reparative cells in lung biology and also provide a sound scientific basis for therapeutic use of adult reparative cells in lung diseases.