Decellularized lung matrix as a scaffold for mouse lung stem cells

Abstract

Decellularized tissue allows scientists to be able to examine cell proliferation and differentiation in the condition of a natural scaffold. The lung is one of several organs which were decellularized. This research proposes seeding decellularized lung with stem/progenitor cells. Endogenous lung stem cells were isolated by enzymatic digestion (Collagenase) of lung tissue and sorted based on expression of three markers: epithelial cell adhesion molecule EpCAM, (beta 4 integrin) CD104, and CD24. A cellular whole mouse lung matrix was prepared and complete decellularization shown by histology and PCR for genomic DNA. We expected the cells to survive and differentiate in this natural scaffold. However, the number of these cells was too low and cell survival was poor with no expression of any epithelial cell marker. The evidence in the literature shows that lung stem cells do exist but more work is required to investigate these cells cultured on a decellularized matrix.