Discovery of Lung Stem Cells May Herald New Treatments

[FourScore]

Discovery of Lung Stem Cells May Herald New Treatments
HealthDayBy By Amanda Gardner
HealthDay Reporter | HealthDay – Mon, Jul 11, 2011

WEDNESDAY, May 11 (HealthDay News) -- Contrary to current scientific thinking, human lungs do harbor stem cells capable of forming different parts of the lung, including blood vessels, a new study says.

The findings, reported May 12 in the New England Journal of Medicine, may open the door to eventual bioengineered lung tissue repair and replacement.

"These cells are very smart. They know what to do," said study senior author Dr. Piero Anversa. "The clinical implications are significant."

The findings could potentially offer a new avenue of treatment for patients suffering from respiratory conditions, such as emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or pulmonary hypertension, that currently have only limited treatment options.

"Now that we have identified these cells and have the potential of growing them, we know it's not science fiction," said Dr. Andrew Pecora, vice president of cancer services and a stem cell expert with Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey. "A single cell placed in the right environment allows for the development of adult cells that can live for 80 years. The implications are potentially limitless..."

http://news.yahoo.com/discovery-lung-stem-cells-may-herald-treatments-210407141.html

[Kat45]

1. That sounds promising. n/t

[housewolf]

2. Very exciting development!

May not happen soon enough to help me out, but it potentially promises great hope for many in the not-too-distant future.

[R. P. McMurphy]

3. Good news! (n/t)

[WCGreen]

4. OMG, I have to hold on for five more years....

I have been battling for many, many years with COPD and I am so excited...

Yo can read about my trials and tribulations on waiting for a lung transplant here.

https://mylungtransplantyears.wordpress.com/about/

If only Bush stood up to the right wing fanatics, we may have gotten their earlier. I hope there is enough time to make up for that lost time. The lung transplant is the least successful of them all.

[slipslidingaway]

6. In case you missed this video ...

Socialized medicine develops first artificial bodypart
2:49 minutes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1G1evlXfKE

Thread in PV
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=598548&mesg_id=598548

"A joint effort between British and Swedish medical research develops the worlds first artificial body parts using plastic molds coated in stem cells..."

:)

[FourScore]

7. Hang in there, WCGreen!

:hug:

[slipslidingaway]

5. knr n/t