Lung Stem Cells in the Epithelium and Vasculature (eBook)

This book covers the identification and role of endogenous lung stem cells in health and disease, particularly the most recent advances. In addition, it discusses the rapidly growing field of stem cells and cell therapy as it relates to lung biology and disease as well as ex vivo lung bioengineering. Such approaches may provide novel therapeutic approaches for lung diseases. Human pluripotent stem cell differentiation to model the pulmonary epithelium and vasculature is also discussed.

World-recognized scientists who specialize in studying both the lung epithelium and pulmonary vasculature contribute the chapters. Topics covered include: stem cell niches in the lung, the role of progenitor cells in fibrosis and asthma, iPSC in modeling lung disease, vascular repair by endothelial progenitor cells and circulating fibrocytes in pulmonary vascular remodeling. This volume of the Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine series is essential reading for researchers and clinicians interested in stem cells, lung biology and regenerative medicine. It is also an invaluable resource for advanced students studying cell biology, regenerative medicine and lung physiology.

Amy Firth, Ph.D. received both her M.Sc. in Pharmacology and her Ph.D. in Pulmonary Physiology and Ion Channel Regulation at University of Bath, UK. For two years, she was a Postdoctoral Fellow at UC San Diego where she studied the pathogenic mechanisms contributing to Pulmonary Hypertension. For this work she was a finalist in the American Heart Association's Cournand and Comroe Young Investigator Award. She is currently a Research Associate at The Salk Institute where her research focuses on generating iPSCs from somatic cells of patients with various diseases, primarily respiratory. By differentiating these cells she is able to study the pathogenic mechanisms of a variety of lung diseases. She is a member of several international societies including International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR), the American Physiological Society and the American Thoracic Society.

Jason X.-J. Yuan, M.D., Ph.D., received his M.D. at Suzhuo Medical College in China and his Ph.D. from Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences in Beijing through a joint training program with the University of Maryland, Baltimore. He is currently Professor of Medicine and Pharmacology; Director, Pulmonary Research Program for Personalized Respiratory Medicine; and Director, Program in Pulmonary Vascular Disease and Right Heart Function Center for Cardiovascular Research at the College of Medicine at University of Illinois - Chicago. His lab focuses on studying pulmonary vascular physiology and pathophysiology, ion channel electrophysiology and pathogenic mechanisms of pulmonary vascular disease. He is particularly interested in the pathogenic role of stem/progenitor cells in pulmonary vascular disease. In addition he is currently Editor-in-Chief for Pulmonary Circulation and Chair of the Pulmonary Circulation Assembly of the American Thoracic Society.