Pulmonary stem cells and the induction of tissue regeneration in the treatment of emphysema.

A common feature of lung disorders with poor treatment options, including emphysema, is a failure to initiate a repair process of the alveolar epithelium. Several putative stem cell niches in the lung thought to be involved in lung homeostasis have been described. Apparently, under pathophysiological conditions these resident progenitor cells are unable to recover damaged alveolar epithelium, in particular in emphysema. The potential therapeutic effect of retinoic acid receptor agonists on various resident lung progenitor cells is reviewed.