In a new study, scientists at the Weizmann Institute of Science have shown that it may be possible to use embryonic stem cells to repair damaged lung tissue.
The research began with an insight: Certain stem cells that normally reside in the lungs are highly similar to those in bone marrow. In each organ, the stem cells, rather than being distributed throughout the tissue, are concentrated in special compartments that contain all the provisions that stem cells need.
Professor Yair Reisner of the Weizmann Institute’s Immunology Department says: “That understanding suggested to us that we might be able to apply our knowledge of techniques for transplanting bone marrow stem cells to repairing lung tissue.”
