Mesenchymal stem cells in chronic lung diseases: COPD and lung fibrosis

Recent advances in understanding the potential roles of stem cells and cell therapies in lung biology and diseases, and progress in ex vivo lung bioengineering offer new promise for a range of lung disease.. These include both chronic fibrotic and chronic obstructive lung diseases, devastating conditions that are increasing in prevalence worldwide and that have no cure except lung transplantatin.. In this chapter we will review current approaches for cell-based therapies for pulmonary fibrosis and for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease CO.