Characterization, localization and comparison of c-Kit+ lung cells in never smokers and smokers with and without COPD.

ABSTRACT:

Background

c-Kit + lung stem cells have been described in the human healthy lung. Their potential relation with smoking and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is unknown.

Methods

We characterized and compared c-Kit+ cells in lung tissue of 12 never smokers (NS), 15 smokers with normal spirometry (S) and 44 COPD patients who required lung resectional surgery. Flow cytometry (FACS) was used to characterize c-Kit+ cells in fresh lung tissue disaggregates, and immunofluorescence (IF) for further characterization and to determine their location in OCT- embedded lung tissue.

Results

We identified 4 c-Kit+ cell populations, with similar proportions in NS, S and COPD: (1) By FACS, c-Kit^high/CD45+ cells (4.03 ± 2.97% (NS), 3.96 ± 5.30% (S), and 5.20 ± 3

SUBMITTER: Lopez-Giraldo A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6066937 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature