Migration of blood-borne regenerative cells during post-pneumonectomy compensatory lung growth

INTRODUCTION: Many rodents demonstrate post-pneumonectomy lung growth, a finding recently suggested by observations in humans. The alveolus consists of a thin epithelial lining and a meshwork of capillaries, with few stromal components available to contribute to regeneration. The limited cellular diversity suggests that lung growth after pneumonectomy requires the migration of regenerative cells. Our hypothesis was that these cells would be derived from the peripheral blood circulation.