Differentiation of embryonic stem cells into type-II pneumocytes

Introduction: Type-II pneumocytes have important functions, including the production of surfactant and regeneration of lost type I pneumocytes. Therefore, the ability of large scale in vitro production of type-II pneumocytes would offer a variety of new therapeutic options in treating pulmonary injuries and diseases, including genetic disorders and ischemia-reperfusion-injury after lung transplantation. Methods and Results: Mouse and rhesus monkey embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are differentiated in order to generate endodermal progenitors and finally functional type-II pneumocytes. Differentiation resulted in form…