COMMENTARY Open Access Evidence for lung epithelial stem cell niches

Recent studies have identified epithelial stem and progenitor cell populations of the lung. We are just beginning to understand the mechanisms that regulate their homeostatic, regenerative and maladaptive behaviors. Here, we discuss evidence of regulatory niches for epithelial stem cells of the lung. Background Unfortunately, curative therapies do not exist for many end stage lung diseases and the final option is often a full lung transplant. The success of this procedure is lim-ited by an inadequate supply of suitable donor organs and chronic allograft rejection in recipients. In vitro studies and animal models have demonstrated that the lung, like some other solid organs, has an endogenous capacity for maintenance and repair (reviewed in [1]). One potential alternative strategy for the management of lung disease would be to harness this reparative poten