Lung Development and Regeneration PDF

Preface

The last decade has witnessed exponential growth of interest and work in the area of lung development, alveolar regeneration, and alveolar architectural stability. These events have led to new insights into mechanisms by which the lung develops and maintains its architecture. In particular, although lagging behind studies on development of conducting airways, interest in the formation of alveoli has grown. Old notions of the immutability of alveolar structure short of disease have given way to new concepts of alveolar plasticity, i.e., regeneration and nondisease-related loss. These ideas, supported by experiments, have given hope to the possibility that therapeutic alveolar regeneration and slowing of alveolar loss may be realistic expections over the next decade. The present volume was designed to focus on two diseases - bronchopulmonary dysplasia as an example of alveolar developmental failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as an example of presently irremedial alveolar loss. Our aim was to present two important clinical entities and supportive experimental and technological means aimed at achieving their remediation.