A significant breakthrough has been achieved by researchers working at China’s Tongji University. They have managed to develop an innovative technology for regenerating human lungs. In a successful clinical trial, an autologous transplantation of stem cells was carried out in the lungs. The main goal was to regenerate damaged lungs of patients.
This study was reported in the noted scientific journal named “Protein & Cell” . This journal is published by Springer Nature. The team of researchers headed by professor Zuo successfully identified p63+/Krt5+ adult stem cells in the lungs of experimental mice. These stem cells were later regenerated into bronchioles, alveoli, and other pulmonary structures.
Following this successful breakthrough, these researchers from Tongji University are now working together with a team of scientists at the Kiangnan Stem Cell Institute to apply the same discovery to human cells as the earlier clinical trial was successful on mice.
Human lungs are completely different from the lungs of mice, both in terms of anatomy and developmental processes. Therefore, chronic pulmonary disorders can be solved by directly investigating human lungs.
An SOX9+ marker was used to label the category of basal cells, which could be cloned into stem cells of the lung in human beings. Professor Ren Tao is a renowned physician who works at the Shanghai East Hospital.
The main goal was to produce lung stem cells from a small sample of basal cells. For this purpose, lung bronchoscopy was performed by a team of researchers headed by Professor Ren Tao.
Lung stem cells were obtained from about 0.2% of cells isolated from each brush. A scaled expansion was conducted in a well maintained fashion to ensure that the cells were genetically stable and to retain their distinct molecular phenotype.
To determine the ability with which lung stem cells could regenerate tissues of lungs in vivo, the researchers transplanted GFP-labeled, lung stem cells of humans into the damaged lungs of experimental mice.
The team of researchers then waited for three weeks after completing the transplantation. At this stage, a “human-mouse chimeric organ” was formed by integrating lung stem cells of humans into a large area of mice lungs.
By performing histological analysis, the transplanted stem cells were regenerated into structures resembling the bronchioles and alveoli of lungs in mice. Researchers observed a host of rising capillaries in the regenerated components of human lungs.
In other words, the team of researchers successfully regenerated respiratory units that were functional in nature. This was confirmed by gold-nanoparticle tracking. After performing stem cell transplantation successfully, new human alveoli were formed in place of fibrotic section of injured lungs.
Lung function in mice was significantly restored by conducting arterial blood gas test.The first clinical trial was performed successfully by a team of researchers from the following organizations: Southwest Hospital of China Army University and Regend Therapeutics.
An autologous transplantation of lung stem cells was performed on patients diagnosed with bronchiectasis. In this condition, the bronchial structure of the lungs is permanently damaged. Two patients were included in this study in March 2016 following strict supervision by ethical committees.
The generated lung stem cells were transplanted into patients’ lung by performing bronchoscopy. These patients were then monitored for one year continuously. Coughing, dyspnea, and other respiratory issues were alleviated in these patients, one year after transplantation.
The dilated structures showed almost complete recovery as per CT images. After the transplantation, it took three months for the patients to show a significant improvement in lung function. Thereafter, they showed further signs of recovery till one year.