Table 1. Summary of the cell sources and their benefits.
Cell type | Harvest method | Advantages | Disadvantages | Benefits in ARDS | Benefits in sepsis |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ESC | Embryos | Totipotent | High tumorigenic potential. Ethical problem | Easy to differentiate to AEC2. No tested in vivo | Reduce mortality and decreases lung inflammation |
iPSC | Skin biopsy | Easy isolation. No rejection | High tumorigenic potential | Easy to differentiate to AEC2. No tested in vivo | – |
MSC | Bone marrow or adipose tissue | Easy isolation. No rejection | High tumorigenic potential | Immunomodulatory effect. Reduce inflammation and lung edema | Reduce mortality and inflammation. Anti-bacterial activity and anti-apoptotic activity |
EnPC | Blood | Non tumorigenic | Difficult isolation and small amount | Maintain the integrity of the lung and improve the lung function | Reduce the sepsis damage re-establishing micro and macrocirculation |
EpPC | Donor tissue | Non tumorigenic | Difficult isolation and small amount | AEC2 cells were tested improving lung function and reducing inflammation | – |
ARDS, acute respiratory distress syndrome; ESC, embryonic stem cells; iPSC, induced pluripotent stem cells; MSC, multipotent stem (or stromal) cells; EnPC, endothelial progenitor cells ; EpPC, epithelial progenitors cells.