Lung Stem Cells (IMAGE)

University of Iowa Health Care

Lung Stem Cells

Caption

University of Iowa researchers have identified a new population of lung stem cells that appear to be important for repairing the airway following severe injury. The cells, which reside in submucosal glands, are known as glandular myoepithelial cells (MECs). This confocal microscopy image shows MECs (green) on the surface airway epithelium following injury. The study, published April 12 in Cell Stem Cell, shows that MECs can self-renew and differentiate into seven distinct cell types in the airway, making them the most plastic lung stem cell discovered to date.

Credit

<em>Cell Stem Cell</em>

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