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.