Human embryonic stem cells and lung regeneration

Ion channels as therapeutic antibody targets

It is now well established that antibodies have numerous potential benefits when developed as therapeutics. Here, we evaluate the technical challenges of raising antibodies to membrane-spanning proteins together with enabling technologies that may facilitate the discovery of antibody therapeutics to ion channels. Additionally, we discuss the potential targeting opportunities in the anti-ion channel antibody landscape, along with a number of case studies where functional antibodies that target ion channels have been reported. Antibodies currently in development and progressing towards the clinic are highlighted.

Stem cell therapy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. How far is it to the clinic?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a respiratory disease that has a major impact worldwide. The currently-available drugs mainly focus on relieving the symptoms of COPD patients. However, in the latter stages of the disease, the airways become largely obstructed and lung parenchyma becomes destructed due to underlying inflammation. The inappropriate repair of lung tissue after injury may contribute to the development of disease. Novel regenerative therapeutic approaches have been investigated with the aim of repairing or replacing the injured functional structures of the respiratory system. Endogenous and exogenous sources of stem cells are available for the treatment of many diseases. Stem cell therapy is newly introduced to the field of COPD. Currently the research is in its infancy; however, the field is profoundly growing. Previous studies suggest that cell-based therapies and novel bioengineering approaches may be potential therapeutic strategies for lung repair and remodelling. In this paper, we review the current evidence of stem cell therapy in COPD.

The spatiotemporal cellular dynamics of lung immunity

The lung is a complex structure that is interdigitated with immune cells. Understanding the 4D process of normal and defective lung function and immunity has been a centuries-old problem. Challenges intrinsic to the lung have limited adequate microscopic evaluation of its cellular dynamics in real time, until recently. Because of emerging technologies, we now recognize alveolar-to-airway transport of inhaled antigen. We understand the nature of neutrophil entry during lung injury and are learning more about cellular interactions during inflammatory states. Insights are also accumulating in lung development and the metastatic niche of the lung. Here we assess the developing technology of lung imaging, its merits for studies of pathophysiology and areas where further advances are needed.

Design and development of tissue engineered lung: Progress and challenges

Before we can realize our long term goal of engineering lung tissue worthy of clinical applications, advances in the identification and utilization of cell sources, development of standardized procedures for differentiation of cells, production of matrix tailored to meet the needs of the lung and design of methods or techniques of applying the engineered tissues into the injured lung environment will need to occur. Design of better biomaterials with the capacity to guide stem cell behavior and facilitate lung lineage choice as well as seamlessly integrate with living lung tissue will be achieved through advances in the development of decellularized matrices and new understandings related to the influence of extracellular matrix on cell behavior and function. We have strong hopes that recent developments in the engineering of conducting airway from decellularized trachea will lead to similar breakthroughs in the engineering of distal lung components in the future.

Standardization of pluripotent stem cell cultures for toxicity testing

INTRODUCTION

Pluripotent stem cell (PSC) lines offer a unique opportunity to derive various human cell types that can be exploited for human safety assessments in vitro and as such contribute to modern mechanistically oriented toxicity testing.

AREAS COVERED

This article reviews the two major types of PSC cultures that are currently most promising for toxicological applications: human embryonic stem cell lines and human induced PSC lines. Through the review, the article explains how these cell types will improve the current safety evaluations of chemicals and will allow a more efficient selection of drug candidates. Additionally, the article discusses the important issues of maintaining PSCs as well as their differentiation efficiency.

EXPERT OPINION

The demonstration of the reliability and relevance of in vitro toxicity tests for a given purpose is mandatory for their use in regulatory toxicity testing. Given the peculiar nature of PSCs, a high level of standardization of undifferentiated cell cultures as well as of the differentiation process is required in order to ensure the establishment of robust test systems. It is, therefore, of pivotal importance to define and internationally agree on crucial parameters to judge the quality of the cellular models before enrolling them for toxicity testing.

Stem cells and cell therapies in lung biology and lung diseases

The University of Vermont College of Medicine and the Vermont Lung Center, with support of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the Alpha-1 Foundation, the American Thoracic Society, the Emory Center for Respiratory Health,the Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) Treatment Alliance,and the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, convened a workshop,‘‘Stem Cells and Cell Therapies in Lung Biology and Lung Diseases,’’ held July 26-29, 2009 at the University of Vermont,to review the current understanding of the role of stem and progenitor cells in lung repair after injury and to review the current status of cell therapy approaches for lung diseases. These are rapidly expanding areas of study that provide further insight into and challenge traditional views of the mechanisms of lung repair after injury and pathogenesis of several lung diseases. The goals of the conference were to summarize the current state of the field, discuss and debate current controversies, and identify future research directions and opportunities for both basic and translational research in cell-based therapies for lung diseases.

Therapeutic potential of lung epithelial progenitor cells derived from embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells derived from preimplantation blastocysts and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells generated from somatic cell sources are pluripotent and capable of indefinite expansion in vitro. They provide a possible unlimited source of cells that could be differentiated into lung progenitor cells for potential clinical use in pulmonary regenerative medicine. Because of inherent difficulties in deriving endodermal cells from undifferentiated cell cultures, applications using lung epithelial cells derived from ES and iPS cells have lagged behind similar efforts devoted to other tissues, such as the heart and spinal cord. However, during the past several years, significant advances in culture, differentiation, and purification protocols, as well as in bioengineering methodologies, have fueled enthusiasm for the development of stem cell-based lung therapeutics. This article provides an overview of recent research achievements and discusses future technical challenges that must be met before the promise of stem cell applications for lung disease can be realized.

Stem cells in clinical practice: applications and warnings

Stem cells are a relevant source of information about cellular differentiation, molecular processes and tissue homeostasis, but also one of the most putative biological tools to treat degenerative diseases. This review focuses on human stem cells clinical and experimental applications. Our aim is to take a correct view of the available stem cell subtypes and their rational use in the medical area, with a specific focus on their therapeutic benefits and side effects. We have reviewed the main clinical trials dividing them basing on their clinical applications, and taking into account the ethical issue associated with the stem cell therapy.